The new girl is a domestic mystery story. It’s a slice of life with a few twists and turns. Anna and Jon are in a relationship and own a business together. Jon brings in a “new girl” to help and Anna isn’t happy with the decision, thinking they are having an affair. The story follows Anna’s unravelling and the strains placed on the marriage. The stakes are fairly low and the suspense is mild but it’s a good easy read.

There is a bit of a religious background to the characters and the book includes topics of infertility and child loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy to read and review.

The New Girl by Alison Stockham

This book is about a couple ( Jon & Anna ) who have tried to have a baby for a good while.
They also own a business which could be going better.

On attending church Jon meets a young girl who he employs to help out much to Anna's annoyance.
Odd things begin to happen and Anna receives a pregnancy scan.
Who does it belong to , and why has it been sent.
Secrets and lies are exposed - who is being truthful and what will be the outcome.

A great read with a few twists. Enjoyed it.

This novel is not a mystery or a thriller, but more of a family drama. The characters were all fairly forgettable and one dimensional but it was well written and reasonably engaging as a novel. The twists were well signposts and there weren't many surprises but a pleasant enough story.

Like many young couples, Anna and Jon are struggling - between managing their small business and Anna's thus far unfulfilled desire for a baby - to manage their day to day commitments. Unlike most young couples however, an unusual series of events is kicked off with the arrival of a baby scan through the letter box...

When Jon brings in Grace, a young woman who is a member of their church, to help out at the business, Anna is very unhappy with this decision. There is something about Grace that she does not trust.

But then again, there is something in Jon's behaviour that is also making Anna feel he is less than trustworthy. So, given that Anna has some secrets of her own to protect, there is a lot of secrecy and a fair bit of lying woven into this story, which inevitably leads to drama.

While the book deals with topics which can be sensitive - miscarriage, fertility issues, fears of infidelity etc - Stockham does a great job of managing these tricky issues with ease, and succeeds in holding the reader's interest throughout. More of a domestic drama than a thriller per se, this is worth checking out if you like reading about complicated relationship dynamics and emotional and ethical challenges.

I got into this book and finished it in a day. Anna and Jon are trying for a baby. They have a new business that keeps them too busy. Jon brings a young woman in to help. Anna is not happy. She feels threat by Grace. She's too perfect. She and Jon seem to have secrets. Anna does too. Interesting twist. I was so afraid something horrible was going to happen.
Thank you NetGalley for making this available.

Anna and Jon are going through the ringer; marriage, business, an all the issues that come with that. To help with the business Jon enlists the help of Grace, a young lady who Jon met at church, much to the dismay as Anna. Soon, a pregnancy scan arrives at their doorstep and life as Anna knows it is upside down.

The New Girl delivered a lot of great twists that kept me engaged and the fast, timely storyline had me struggling to put it down! It reminded me a lot of a Daniel Hurst or Kiersten Modglin book, and I loved that. If you're looking for a fast-paced, well rounded thriller, The New Girl is the book for you!

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Anna and Jon own a small business. They have been trying to start a family for years, to no avail.
Jon meets a young girl at church, and employs her against Anna's wishes.
Anna receives a baby scan in the mail, andit is a mystery as to why and who sent it to her. Did they know her secret?

I am not sure I would class this as a thriller. It was intriguing with lots of mystery, secrets, lies and questions.
It was quite emotional in places.
I did expect more from the book, some of it dragged on a little too long for my taste.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this book.

This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!

This was very enjoyable read especially the build up of suspense and tension which made it an exhilarating read overall.

I really enjoyed this book it had many twists and turns. It was an emotional rollercoaster at times. I thought it was fantastically written with well developed characters. I will definitely be recommending this thriller. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy.

This wasn’t a mystery or thriller as I’d hoped from the blurb, in fact it was too easy to guess far too early on. Husband s d wide at odds over having a baby, younger woman turns up and not for a second did I think they were having an affair, the “twist” was far too easy to jump too. It didn’t help that I really disliked Anna so I wouldn’t have cared if Jon HAD been having an affair. It was a straight forward read. The development of the characters, lack of suspense are factors that contribute to my rating.

Thank you to NetGalley for advanced copy. This is an honest voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this copy of The New Girl in exchange for an honest review. This book at me right at the start. The twists and turns were relentless. It gives a little bit of Frieda McFadden writing style and suspense without the scary bits. I found this a page turner and very easy to read and follow.

A good, dark thrillers that kept me guessing throughout. Recommended for a quick and easy domestic noir xx

3.5 stars. Intriguing mystery with a husband and wife who are trying to have a baby with no luck. Lots of twists and not a bad suspenseful buildup, but Anna was so all over the place. Why didn't her husband or best friend get her therapy??? The end was kind of funny after all of the buildup. Good luck Jon!

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

This book was not a thriller or mystery like I thought it would be! But it was an emotional rollercoaster of tears, fears, loss, and gains!
Anna and Jon had been trying for a baby and after years of disappointment with no success! Little did Jon know Anna had some secrets of her own! Then a piece of paper gets sent through her letterbox of a black and white photo of a baby scan! Who's pregnant?! Why was thus sent to her?! Is Jon cheating and got someone pregnant?! In walks Grace into the picture! The new girl Jon hired to help in their printing business! Anna knows something is going on between Jon and Grace! She just can't see what it is! Yet! This book definitely gives all the feels! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! Its not my usual type of read but very enjoyable! I definitely recommend reading this one! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This is a good read on the whole. Has some twists and surprises, which I liked. I felt the characters could have been developed more, it just felt lacking somewhere.

Publication date: April 9th, 2024
Page count: arc 227
Genre: domestic thriller
Setting: English town
POV: Anna

Anna and Jon are married and have a design/print company. Jon encourages them to hire a young lady Grace from church, to help with the administrative work. Anna is unsure about Grace, but Jon seems to have an affinity towards her.

Anna and Jon have been unsuccessfully trying to have a baby, which is taking a toll of their marriage.

An ultrasound photo ends up in their mailbox.

Who is baby? Who put it in the mailbox? How do Jon and Grace factor into this?

Straight forward read. The development of the characters, lack of suspense are factors that contribute to my rating.

Thank you to author, publisher, NetGalley for advanced copy. This is an honest voluntary review.

An addictive read that keeps you guessing and turning the pages until the end. Lots of twists and turns and surprises!

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is 9th April. I devoured this book in one sitting a perfect domestic thriller with loads of twists and turns that kept me glued to my kindle!

I liked the character Anna at the beginning I felt sorry a bit sorry for her but then as the book progressed I thought she became a bit unhinged! The ending one word WOW I thought I predicted it but I was so wrong!

Overall, a fantastic thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with many suspenseful moments! 😊

Grabs you and doesn't let go! Solid domestic mystery with so many secrets and lies you will think you've got it, then you won't, then you will think again. You really won't know what's coming, the duplicity and fanaticism that is incredibly harsh could be triggers, so be aware.