Mary Kay Andrews is the queen of writing mysteries that take us to the South and often to the beach. In THE NEWCOMER, we travel from New York to Treasure Island, Florida, a small beachside town near St. Petersburg. When Letty grabs her niece, Maya, and flees the city after discovering her sister Tanya's lifeless body, she heads south. In the bottom of Tanya's go-bag is an article, "Florida's Hidden Gems: Four Family Motels You'll Want to Discover," and one in particular is circled: The Murmuring Surf Motel. That's where Letty and Maya go because Letty is determined to fulfill the promise she made to Tanya, who had worried that her ex-boyfriend, Evan Wingfield, would kill her.

While Letty and Tanya had a rollercoaster relationship, Letty loves Maya and will do anything to protect her. But the Murmuring Surf Motel is full of senior citizens who aren't thrilled with the newcomers. These are people who have visited the hotel for decades, and they don't do well with change. When the pair arrive, there are no vacancies. But Letty lets Maya work her charming magic, and Ava, the motel’s owner, will let them stay there if they can clean up the storage room.

"As with all of Andrews' novels, we are hooked from the first page. The descriptions of the setting draw us in, especially those of us who have vacationed in Florida."

In the meantime, Letty is wanted for kidnapping, and Evan, who is also Maya's father, is worried that she knows too much about his shady business dealings. Ava's handsome son, Joe, is the local detective, and Letty believes that he's around far too much and asks too many questions. She tries to keep her head low while also searching for clues about what really happened to her sister.

As with all of Andrews' novels, we are hooked from the first page. The descriptions of the setting draw us in, especially those of us who have vacationed in Florida. We can hear the car bumping over the oyster-shell driveway, and we can see the "yellowing fronds of a huge palm tree." We also can picture the motel, small and modest, with its sign that features "neon-blue waves, waving green palms, and pink lettering" that flashes on and off.

Letty is a truly admirable character. She's had a rough life with an uncaring mother who basically left her and Tanya to raise themselves. There was no college or career track, and the only caring people in their lives were their grandparents, who lived halfway across the country. Letty had been struggling to pay for an apartment in New York City by waitressing and finding other jobs after an unsuccessful attempt to make it in acting. But despite her humbled beginnings and lack of an education, she is determined to make it on her own and makes it quite clear that she doesn't need anyone to rescue her.

Although the story is told mostly from Letty's point of view, we fall just a bit in love with Joe. He's honest and compassionate, and although he knows that Letty is on the run, he's not willing to turn her in. We also are presented with two suspects who might have murdered the flighty, slightly amoral Tanya, who was arrested in Florida for helping two men con senior citizens out of their antiques and jewelry. You will want to know who did the dirty deed and if Letty gets a happily-ever-after.

THE NEWCOMER is a mystery, a romance and a paean to the small family motels that are disappearing from the Florida coast and being replaced by high-rises that have no character or charm. Take a break this summer and travel through the pages to the coast. You will feel the salty breeze in your face and vicariously enjoy the breathtaking sunsets over the gulf. It's a trip worth taking.