I preferred the story as I went on. The beginning of the book was a bit complicated. I liked the main character and the premise of the book. I would rate 3.5 stars because of the clunky beginning which made it a little hard to get into and confusing. Also, I’m a fan of Rizzoli and Isles so I may be biased in favor of that.
The author makes effective use of different settings which I enjoyed. I particularly liked the Thailand setting.
This is the first book in a series, so my thinking is that the author is spending more time introducing the different characters, which may account for a bit of choppiness at the start. I am interested and would definitely read further on to see what happens in the next book.

The Spy Coast
Maggie lived happily on Blackberry Farm in coastal Purity, Maine. She and her friends, Declan, Lloyd, Ingrid and Ben, were all retired CIA operatives. They settled in that small town because they wanted to have an uneventful retirement. They called themselves the Martini Club and socialized together often.
However that all changed when Maggie came home to find a woman in her farmhouse. That woman, Bianca claimed to be from the CIA and asked Maggie for her help finding another former CIA operative who was missing. She also told Maggie that there had been a security breach at the CIA. Classified information about an operation that Maggie had worked on 16 years ago had been accessed. Maggie refused to help. A few days later Bianca’s dead body was left on the driveway at Blueberry Farm.
Acting Police Chief, Jo Thibodeau, became suspicious of Maggie and her other retired friends and their connection to the murdered woman. The Martini club members did not offer any information but began their own investigation. It quickly became obvious that the Martini Club members were doing a better job at finding the murders than Jo.
Maggie eventually realized that she must return to one of her past assignments to find out why she was being targeted.
There were trips to Bangkok, Istanbul, Malta and London by Maggie and some of her friends before the matter could be settled.
This is a fast paced book that will keep the reader in suspense till the very end. I enjoyed it. The author stated that she lives in a town in Maine similar to Purity. Her husband, a local doctor, learned that several of the local residents were former CIA spies. This information inspired her to write this book.
I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Spy Coast is the first book in The Martini Club series. This is a wonderful start to a fascinating new series.

Maggie Bird lives in the seaside village of Purity, Maine. She retired years ago and moved around until a former co-worker reached out to her about moving to this quiet paradise.

A visitor shows up looking for a woman she used to work with, Maggie becomes alarmed but doesn't let on. The visitor later turns up dead in Maggie's driveway while she is at a book club meeting.

After her friends hear the news, they rally to help her. But Maggie realizes someone from her past wants her dead and she will need to go on the run, in order to find out why. Maggie turns to her old friends who all just happen to be retirees from the CIA.

Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau becomes annoyed from the interference of the book club group. Jo suspects there is more to Maggie and her neighbors than they reveal.

This was a fun book to read. The old crew shows that they still have some tricks up their sleeves. Highly entertaining, and worth reading this new series.

While I was sucked into the story right away, it took quite awhile before I felt I understood who the main character actually was. Maggie isn’t strong enough of a character to have been given the leading role… she’s kind of boring. I also don’t really understand why we had Jo’s POV. Her chapters could have been cut out and we wouldn’t have noticed the absence. The only reason I could come up with as to why they exist at all is perhaps she’s going to be more prominent later in this new series.

Regardless, I still enjoyed the ride and I will continue on with the series. I enjoyed the banter of Maggie’s martini club buddies.

The Spy Coast is too good to relate any detailed summary or spoilers. I am pretty good at solving mysteries, but it took a long while to figure out how this novel was going to end.

Tess Gerritsen is an accomplished writer, and it is that talent and experience that makes The Spy Coast such a compelling narrative. Gerritsen knows how to write characters, and once again, she does so exceptionally well. Readers will find ways to connect with every character. I could visualize every named character, based both on their behavior and also based on how other characters interact with any given character. Gerritsen uses nearly every possible theme or motif available to an accomplished writer. She includes love, romance, loss, fear, murder, and so many others that I cannot list all of them. I left likability off that list, but that is a given with a book that cannot be put down. The riviting narrative and characters will keep readers reading long after they should be asleep.

In her author's note at the end of the book, Gerritsen mentions that creating a spy who is not a James Bond lookalike was inspired by her own small village filled with retirees, who were not always what that appeared to be. I really enjoyed this novel and recommend it. It is always nice to have a hero who looks like me and also has chickens.

Thank you to the author, Gerritsen, and to publishers, Thomas & Mercer, and to NetGalley for making this ARC available to read and review. This was an easy review to write. I am recommending it for my book club, fellow mystery/murder addicts.

The Spy Coast is a novel about an ex-CIA operative named Maggie living the simple life on a farm in small town Maine. The book has 2 POVs, Maggie and Jo, the local acting police chief. When a body turns up on Maggie’s property, she’s forced to look back on her career with the CIA in order to figure out why someone’s targeting her. I really enjoyed the first half of the book, in the current time frame with both POV’s. But the second half lost me in Maggie’s past and Jo’s POV falls off to the wayside. There’s potential there but it didn’t stay consistent and I won’t be continuing on with the series.

I'm truly excited to talk about this author because their writing resonated with me on a deep level. Their expertise in describing the human body is awe-inspiring, and the way they crafted the espionage and dual timeline elements in the story kept me engaged throughout.

At first, the portrayal of human cruelty saddened me, highlighting the harsh realities we often face. Yet, amidst the sadness, the story took a hopeful turn. The characters, with all their flaws and vulnerabilities, showcased the incredible strength of unity and kindness. This shift in the narrative touched my heart.

The emotional journey this book took me on was both poignant and uplifting. While the beginning was challenging, the story's evolution captivated me entirely. I appreciate the author's ability to evoke such strong emotions, and I'm glad I continued reading. This book ended up being a deeply moving experience, reminding me of the power of resilience and compassion.

It has been such a long time since I picked up a CIA thriller and The Spy Coast was an incredible reminder of how awesome this sub-genre can be when written well! I haven't had the pleasure of reading anything by this author until now, and ran immediately to my TBR to find another title by Tess that has been buried for too long.

I loved these characters and the back and forth timelines. It made this book so fast paced and very engaging. Maggie is an absolute badass too, though I preferred reading about her story "in the past." The remaining secondary characters also add a lot of fun to the plot. Will we see a budding late in life romance for 2 of them? 😏

When I did not see the ending coming, I mean I DID NOT SEE THE ENDING COMING. It was so good and what a twist!!! This book is begging to be part of a series and we're left with a bit of a cliffhanger, so we shall see where this one goes.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen is a very highly recommended, excellent spy thriller and the first book in a new series featuring a group of retired CIA operatives living in Purity, Maine.

Maggie Bird, 60, retired from the CIA sixteen years ago and now considers herself a chicken farmer. She enjoys her quiet life on Blackberry Farm and the book club/martini club she attends with a group of long time friends who are also retired. When a mysterious woman who shows up asking about a former associate is later found dead in Maggie's driveway, it's clearly a message and threat. Maggie's friends are quick to jump in to help her with their special skills. Acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau, however, is puzzled by this group of senior citizens who are competently conducting their own investigation.

The narrative alternates between the past and the present in Maggie's life and told through the point-of-view of Maggie or Jo. Although the story moves around in time, it is very easy to follow and readers will know which character is the focus. The main story concerns Maggie and her life. Maggie is a fully realized, well-developed character and she will immediately garner your support and sympathy

Everything about The Spy Coast is excellent, the writing, plot, and characters, and represents the start of a wonderful new series that I will most definitely follow. The Martini Club is composed of likeable, skilled former CIA agents who may be retired seniors but are still intelligent and capable. The pages flew by in this entertaining, fast-paced, and engaging novel. The ending was a complete surprise.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Book Browse, Edelweiss, X, and Amazon.

This book kept me involved/interested, but some of the story felt a bit..absent. A possible love interest that suddenly appears in the end and ultimately gets no resolution, a hesitancy to trust the former employee that isn't fully explained/developed, and a group of former coworkers that are clearly very tight, but also didn't work together for very long, many years ago? Ultimately, I finished the book, so I'd give it a 3.5.

Tess Gerritsen is a prolific author known for writing quality thrillers and giving readers the fan favorite Rizzoli and Isles series. But I do believe she has outdone herself in THE SPY COAST. The story line is brilliant! A retired CIA agent and her circle of friends that are just trying to live under the radar of those who might be looking for them. They call themselves "The Martini Club". Thinking this group of retired....old, but not as old as you think....friends have lost their skills is a mistake their enemies will only make once. If you've watched any of the RED or EXPENDABLES movies, you would have an idea of the tone of this book. But Gerritsen has her own style and these characters will keep you entertained as they work together to defeat this first wave of old enemies. We can hope that this is not a stand alone book but the beginning of a series I'll be happy to read.

When the life of former spy Maggie Bird—now retired and living in coastal Maine—is threatened, the other retired spies in town rush in to help. Who knew that there were so many ex-CIA agents in this small town? Tess Gerritsen has penned a thoroughly engaging thriller that jumps back and forth from the present to Maggie’s last job, as she tries to figure out who has come back to kill her, and why. Maggie and her similarly unassuming friends have lots of experience, extensive contacts, and the ability to figure out this mystery. The book is fast-paced and captivating, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in what seems to be a new series. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this top-notch thriller.

Loved The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen! This action-packed thriller had several intriguing plot lines running from the past to the present. There was action, drama, friendship, competition, contentment, and love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Spy Coast, Tess Gerritsen’s latest venture into the thrilling adrenaline-filled world of espionage, is a quiet adventure centered in an equally quiet town of Purity, Maine. Maggie Bird is an elderly chicken farmer who lives contentedly with her flock. That remains true until a young lady knocks for help. Hours later, she is found brutally murdered at Maggie’s doorstep. Intrigue establishes itself as one wonders how an older woman gets embroiled in the world of crime.
True to the likes of all of Tess Gerritsen’s works, this novel also is a guaranteed page-turner. Yet it lacks the presence of nerve-racking danger, skilled forensics analysis and deductive reasoning to solve a crime scene that Tess is famous for.
Maggie is not the usual young and charming femme fatale that a so-called “spy” novel always features. In contrast, she is an experienced and retired field agent of the CIA with ordinary, undistinguishable features – sort of those who melt in the crowd. She finds comfort in her co-retired professionals, and together, they all lead a quiet existence.
One might wonder how tranquility and thrill go together. That is where the flashback arrives, and we see a glimpse of the femme fatale Maggie had been over a lifetime ago. This forms the pulse that powers the novel. One would feel adrenaline, emotions, and the incessant need to turn the page; one would want to skim through the current timeline to travel to the past and revel in the backstory.
And that is where the novel presents its exciting tone. Instead of danger and grotesque crimes, the world of espionage is explored through the eyes of a seasoned expert. It is more of a reflection of a time gone by than anything else. As the story converges with the past and present elements, the connection is beautifully drawn. Emotions like trust, loyalty and patriotism intermingle to present a double-edged sword – wherein each side is a haunting alternative. You will always get hurt. You will always live with regrets. There are no two ways about it.
Maggie experiences the repercussions, and with her, the reader is also compelled to contemplate. With love and country in the mix, which side would you choose?
For those craving a light-hearted and fast-paced thriller novel to relish a cozy night read, this might be just the right pick!

The Spy Coast by T. Gerritsen, published by Thomas & Mercer is the first book in the new The Martini Club Series.
Maggie , an ex-spy, is living in Maine a quiet life. Together with other retirees she just wants to raise her chicken, live in peace and tranquillity. That's about to change when old acquantances show up. Local cop, Jo is compllicating the efforts of Maggie and friends.
A fantastic read, I was intrigued right from the start, sitting on the edge of my seat I read the whole book, cover to cover, in one sitting.
The author did a marvelous job with this suspenseful thriller. A story of its finest, a fantastic read.

No surprise that this book has a great plot and excellent characters, and the writing itself is, of course, very good. The surprise is the storytelling, with the changing POV and all the jumping around.

An intriguing adventure with retirees whose past has come back to haunt them. Nice of have interesting characters near my age. Great to see this is the beginning of a series. Lots of potential for this group. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

The Spy Coast is one of the more recent books that covers older assassins/government agents who have retired and are forced back into action. The few that I have gotten my hands on so far have all been a great tribute to women of "a certain age" that I love. I was already a fan of Tess Gerritsen's, but this book has increased my admiration for her writing. The Spy Coast is the first in the Martini Club series where several friends have all relocated to Purity, Maine, and still meet as friends in their everyday lives.

Maggie is a former spy who has left some serious baggage from her active career that appears to be following her to her new retired home at her farm in Maine. She tells her story throughout the book, and the reader just likes her strength and resilience more. The other retirees rally around her and work to help her find out the truth of the threat against her and also to stand with her as the threat grows more dangerous. The title of the second in the series has already been released, and I am really looking forward to the next installment in this series. This review can also be read along with other reviews at Lady Techie's Book Musings http://LadyTechiesbookmusings.blogspot.com

I would have loved The Spy Coast even if it didn't place in my beautiful home state of Maine, but, in the end, that was only part of what made The Spy Coast so good. The idea of a community of retired spies living their now quiet lives and calling themselves The Martini Club is just so intriguing, but so is the character of Jo Thibodeau. She's tough, persistent, and deeply committed to making her community safe, and I'm hoping that we see more of all these compelling characters in future installments of the series. After all, who does a series better than Tess Gerritsen?

The Spy Coast is the start to a new series The Martini Club by Tess Gerritsen.
I love this authors books. Her writing always keeps me hooked and wanting more.
A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller.
Former spy Maggie Bird is an interesting character and I loved her role and character in this story.
An excellent book with fascinating characters that keep me turning the pages.
It grabs you from the beginning and does not let go. Had to read it in one sitting.
The mystery and build up of tension kept me turning the pages and I can’t wait for book two The Summer Guests.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.