The new neighbor

When Margaret, a fiercely independent and cantankerous 90-year-old retired army nurse, spies a blond woman in the house across the lake, she goes into "Miss Marple" mode and sets out to find out who her new neighbor is. Eventually, she learns the woman is a masseuse named Jennifer, whose complicated and secretive backstory includes a dead husband and a scandal she'd rather not discuss. As the two women begin forging a relationship and sharing life stories, some details slip and Margaret begins to piece together Jennifer's situation, much to the younger woman's chagrin. As a result of Margaret's sleuthing, Jennifer's long-lost daughter, Zoe, appears on the scene, further complicating Jennifer's new existence and exposing her buried secrets. The story is sometimes frustratingly choppy and unclear as it jumps back and forth between past and present. Dianna Dorman's narration is adequate; the modulation and character distinctiveness could have been better. Verdict While not on par a with Stewart's previous titles (e.g., The History of Us), this may be enjoyed by fans of Jennifer McMahon and similar authors.-Nicole A. Cooke, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.