In The New Neighbor, CIA analyst Beth is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. She and her husband, Mike, are officially empty nesters once they drop their youngest child off at college. Their beautiful house has sold and they’re downsizing to a much smaller rental house tomorrow. Then, Mike tells Beth he is leaving her.
But at least she still has her engaging job, right? However, Beth discovers that her boss has pulled her off her long-standing case and reassigned her to a teaching assignment that is anything but a promotion. Beth has had enough and decides to search for her elusive target, a hacker trying to break into a government database using a sleeper agent, on her own. Could the sleeper be the very woman who bought her house?
If you like your thrillers realistic with relatable characters, this book is not for you. All the characters here are one-note cardboard cutouts recycled from a cancelled cable channel spy show. The plot is over-the-top unbelievable. Plus, the conclusion was a letdown. The New Neighbor is a disappointment throughout and so is not recommended. 2 stars.
Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.