This is my first Tess Gerritsen book and it definitely won’t be my last! This is the first book in a series and it sets up the series perfectly. Much of this book is in the past recalling a case that has found Maggie again. I loved the characters (you forget they are retired the way they act!). I highly recommend this book if you love spy thrillers with a personal story attached. This is a book you will want to read before the next book so read it now!

Maggie is a retired CIA agent living in rural Maine when a young woman shows up looking for another agent. When the same young woman is dumped in front of her home and then Maggie becomes the target of a shooter on her property she's forced to face her past. Also living in the same town are other retired former agents and friends who help her solve this mystery. I loved all these "retired" agents who use intelligence and experience - I can't wait for the next installment.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

a retired town for spies who would have thought that was a thing

maggie bird has come to purity maine to finally settle down after years of wandering, she is security conscious and keeping a low profile but it doesnt help when a body of a woman is found on her driveway, murdered with two taps to the head

she is suddenly in the spotlight and when someone tries to kill her days later she knows that her past is fast catching up with her but who or why

oh man this book, where it leads and the whys it keeps you reading and guessing right to the end and its never disappointing, couldnt get enough of this book and the explanation from the author at the end wow just wow

‘It’s the perfect place to retire … until they find you’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Spy Coast’ by Tess Gerritsen.

This is the first book in the Martini Club, a new series about a group of retired CIA operatives who have moved to the seaside village of Purity in Maine. They meet regularly under the pretext of a book group.

After years of active service Maggie Bird now lives quietly on her chicken farm. She had taken early retirement following a mission that went tragically wrong. She returns from a meeting of the Martini Club to find the police at her property. The body of a woman has been dumped on her driveway. Maggie is convinced that it’s a message from former foes.

She reaches out to her local circle of fellow CIA retirees to investigate. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. She is puzzled by the Martini Club, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

Aside from chapters set in the present day, other chapters return to earlier times in Maggie’s globe spanning clandestine career in order to discover why the ghosts of her past have returned.

I have been a great admirer of Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series and so was very pleased that she was writing a new series with spies. This proved a strong start and established its key characters. As with all of her novels, the plot and pacing were good.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘The Spy Coast’ very much and look forward to future outings for the Martini Club.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This is the most fun I've had reading a crime novel for ages! There was just something magical about this cast of characters - a group of former-CIA agents who have all retired to the town of Purity in Maine for a relaxing retirement. Obviously this doesn't go to plan and the gang have to put their heads together to solve a murder after a body is dumped on Maggie Bird's driveway. I really felt like this was the perfect mix of thriller and cosy crime - Operation Cyrano and the spy elements of the story were intense and kept my interest the whole way through, while at the same time, I got completely wrapped up in the relationships between the members of The Martini Club. Fingers crossed for a sequel!

I found this one a little far fetched, but I kept reading and enjoyed the characters. Many thanks for the advance copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Tess Gerritsen provided us with years of delight with her Rizzoli & Isles series, which was then brought to life in an absolutely addictive long-running tv series that is a personal favorite of mine, due to wonderful casting and Gerritsen's clever and talented writing.

Equally as enthralling is The Spy Coast, featuring the character Maggie Bird, who moved to the town of Purity to live a quiet life (luckily with a few of her fellow retired spies, as her past comes back to haunt her).

I was riveted to every word, Tess Gerritsen is one of the most entertaining writer we have, and I hope that The Spy Coast becomes another long-running series!

One of my favorite books of the year, Tess Gerritsen once again has created relatable characters with unique jobs, and this book should capture the hearts of those who enjoy mysteries, thrillers and spy novels.

Thanks to the author for decades of entertainment, with her captivating books and well+crafted characters.

This is a story you won't want to put down, and for me, it earned an easy 5 star rating.

What an absolute ride this book was. Maggie Bird lives the perfect retirement life with her chickens and her friends in a small town in rural Maine. When a woman comes to warn her about things in her past and then ends up dead in her driveway shortly after, she gets thrust back into her old lifestyle of being a spy for the CIA. In this thrilling book, we follow Maggie as she reflects into her past to help prevent future problems for her and the people in the community that she has learned to love.

I found this book to be such a great thriller. It was hard to put down, with lots of twists and turns, all building in suspense. This book would make a fantastic movie. I see that it is the number one in a series, and I am excited to get my hands on future books involving The Martini Club. I loved getting the multiple POVs, including Jo the town police chief, and can tell she is going to be featured more in the future which I am happy for. I also enjoyed the rest of the members of the Martini Club, hoping that we get more background on these characters in the future. Overall, this was a fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat and I highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

A fairly predictable romantic suspense novel but still good and kept my attention from beginning to end.

What a fun and unique twist on a spy novel. I was constantly entertained by both the plot and character development. I think those even not typically into spy novels would enjoy this! It felt like a hit TV show waiting to happen.

Maggie Bird was a sixty year old retired woman who had recently moved to Purity, Maine on the recommendation of a very old and dear friend. When Maggie first learned about Purity from her friend Declan Rose, Maggie had thought that she had finally found a place where she could live out the rest of her life. Maggie had been a CIA spy but everything changed for her after Operation Cyrano. Reluctantly, Maggie became involved in that operation but something went terribly wrong with it. Maggie did not hesitate to submit her resignation after that operation. That was the last operation Maggie ever worked on for the CIA. She was now the proud and content owner of Blackberry Farm. Maggie loved everything about her chicken farm and living in this quaint and quiet little town in Maine. She even participated in a book club whose members were also part of The Martini Club. All was good for Maggie until a dead woman was discovered on her driveway. Soon Maggie’s own life was threatened. Maggie had also became a target. Who wanted her dead and why? Operation Cyrano had been classified but the word was that it had been compromised and someone was seeking revenge. Will the members of The Martini Club be able to help Maggie figure out who was trying to kill her? Can they keep her safe?

I like the stories that talks about former spies and how their life can be changed in a moment when they are needed.
This is the start of a new series and I'm curious about the future stories as this one is full of promises and potential.
Well plotted, good characters, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Tess Gerritsen's The Spy Coast is a captivating debut that unravels the lives of retired spies in the picturesque village of Purity, Maine. Maggie Bird, a former spy turned chicken farmer, finds herself entangled in a complex web when Bianca, a government agent, arrives with news of her missing handler, Diana Ward.

The narrative, presented through multiple perspectives and alternating between past and present, unfolds gradually, revealing a resurfacing mission from Maggie's past. The camaraderie among Maggie and her retired CIA friends adds depth to the story, proving pivotal during a murder investigation and a subsequent attempt on Maggie's life.

Jo Thibodeau, the acting chief, showcases investigative prowess despite her role, questioning the retirees' involvement in solving crimes. The unraveling mystery behind Maggie's past mission is a highlight, peeling layers like an onion.

While the book contends with typical first-book problems and maintains measured pacing, it establishes a promising foundation for the series. Gerritsen adeptly introduces, portrays, and develops characters, immerses readers in a vivid setting, and explores espionage themes.

In noting parallels with another series, The Retired Detectives Club by Steph Broadribb, and foreseeing similarities with Gerritsen's The Martini Club, the review highlights the distinctive role of the retirees' former government roles in Gerritsen's narrative.

The Spy Coast is undeniably a must-read espionage thriller series, promising a compelling journey with Maggie and her cohorts.

I highly recommend The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritson. The story moves along quickly and I liked the characters a lot. I hope to read more on this group of retired CIA. It moved along quickly and gave enough element of mystery you were not sure what was going to happen. It also gave an element of humor and caring.

The story is told from multiple POVs and each one is uniquely interesting. When Maggie hears someone is asking about her she knows trouble has found her. She's taken great care to not be found. So she must enlist help from her fellow retired friends to figure out who is after her because the next events show they want to kill her.

Great story and I look forward to more with this group!

Thank you, Tess Gettitsen, NetGalley and publishers Thomas & Mercer Seattle for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. I would buy this book for a friend. It's a very good read.

I have been a long time fan of Tess's Rizzoli and Isles so this was no brainer for me to request this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

Maggie, Declan, Ben, Lloyd, Ingrid have set up their homes in Purity, Maine. They have retired from being CIA Spies but Maggie is drawn back into that life by a stranger asking questions about a former colleague of hers then the stranger is found dead at the bottom of her driveway. Acting Chief of Police Jo Thibodeaux starts to investigate this murder but she is forced to hand it over to the Maine State Police. This story is told using different characters and over several time lines to great effect as it kept me wanting to carry on reading. The characters are well written and the locations described were well researched. Maggie is persuaded by her handler to go on a mission 16 years ago, which leads to fateful incidence. The plot is peppered with twists and turns and the story comes together with a surprising conclusion. I hope The Martini Club ex-Spies come back as I enjoyed reading their story.

Tess Gerritsen, The Spy Coast, Thomas & Mercer, November 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

I am so pleased to have returned to reading Tess Gerritsen’s work after having neglected to do so for a while. This novel was an excellent move back to enjoying her work, and I look forward to reading and rereading her Rizzoli and Isles series. The Spy Coast is different but retains Gerritsen’s ability to draw characters whose stories are tempting to follow, a good plot and a satisfactory resolution.

The first chapter introduces Diana whose life has changed from being ‘the golden girl’ to one who dyes her blonde to ‘dead-mouse brown’ to escape a threat. With such a description how can we not want to know more! Diana is on the run, but should she evoke sympathy? In chapter 2 Maggie is introduced. Rather than living in the salubrious apartment in Paris in which Diana, when introduced resided, Maggie is in a field contemplating blood, feathers and revenge for her killed chickens. Is it she with whom one should sympathise?

Maggie is not alone in her love for her snowy lifestyle, farming in a small town, Purity, Maine. Her neighbours and friends are introduced along with a young police officer who has just become acting Chief of Police upon the death of her superior officer. Jo also becomes a character with whom it is easy to find links, although here too, there are questions. Is her questioning of Maggie over a body found in her driveway legitimate or intrusive? The body is that of a woman who surreptitiously visited Maggie with a threat. Like Diana, Maggie becomes a threatened runaway. Her backstory, of a love affair begun in Bangkok, follows her every move.

Because this is a spy story the questions mount, and answers introduce more complexities. Like Maggie and Diana, who have learned never to trust, the need to question seemingly ‘good’ characters becomes part of the reading of the novel. Gerritsen makes an excellent effort to draw the reader into the complex world of spy and counter spy, plots, death threats and their execution, escape and questions about whether such evasion of possible death will last.

This is a good read as the loneliness of having been caught up in a world where being on the constant look out for threats or duplicity is an essential part of the writing, even when all seems to be well. At the same time as recognising the importance of the characters’ feelings of loss and lifelong suspicion of others, the novel draws upon optimism in its resolution. Such optimism might be misplaced, but the characters accept their lives as they have progressed, and their friendship groups remains intact. Here they are advantaged by their ageing – Maggie and her friends, and Diana are in their sixties and seventies. Their experience benefits them, despite the occasional physical limitation, ensuring that age is seen as a positive rather than a negative in their understanding of how to deal with the crises with which they are confronted. It does not necessarily save them, and several gruesome deaths take place. The life of a spy is not easy, in its prime or retirement, as this novel cleverly evokes though both sympathetic and unsympathetic characters in a well-developed plot.

I am a big fan of this author's Rizzoli & Isles series, and have also read and enjoyed a couple of stand alones. So I was quite excited to hear that she was beginning a new series. Even more so when I got my grubby wee mitts on a copy!
We start with Maggie, a former spy who has retired to the seaside village of Purity, Maine. She spends her days quietly on her chicken farm, trying to put her past behind her. Until one day when she receives a strange visitor, asking for help. She turns them away but is still intrigued enough to bring the topic to "book club" which is anything but about books. You see, she is not the only retired spook to be living in Maine. There are a bunch of them, all old friends, all trying to put their pasts behind them. Meeting as the "Martini Club". But they are forced to act, and quick, when Maggie's visitor turns up dead; her body being dumped on Maggie's drive. Enter Purity police chief Jo Thibodeau to investigate...
And so begins a cracking story with Maggie at the centre as she and the Martini Club try and work out what is going on and, more importantly, how to keep Maggie safe. All the time also trying to keep under the radar of the cops.
Ok so there is a big trend for authors to focus on oldies as heroes. And part of me was worried that it was just bandwaggoning. But I was swiftly put in my place as it gripped me right from the off and I was soon sucked into their world. I guess the difference is that these characters were the real deal once. Actually they still are, mentally, if not always physically. And I soon forgot their ages as that really wasn't the focus. I also loved the growing relationship they started to have with Jo, although I might like to see her given a bigger role in future books. Maybe a spin off of her own, she has a lot more to give than just being a bit-part player.
All in all, a good solid opener which left me satisfied and excited to see what the author has in store for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for offerring this book in exchange my honest review.

The Spy Coast is a fast-paced thriller filled with suspense and action. One of the strongest aspects of this book is the well-developed characters. Maggie Bird is smart, resourceful, and not afraid to take risks. Gerritsen does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, and just when you think you have everything figured out, another shocking revelation is thrown into the mix. The action scenes are well-written and keep you on the edge of your seat. In conclusion, it is an entertaining and gripping read that will keep you engaged from start to finish. With its well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and unexpected twists, it is a must-read for fans of thrillers.

3.5~4★
“It’s exactly the sort of evening that we retired folks are believed to indulge in. I doubt the police will ask what we are all retired from, because when you are over the hill, what you did in your previous life is of little interest to most people.”

The sort of evening Maggie is referring to is a gathering of five friends around a potluck dinner, bottles of wine, and the apparent discussion of a book. Acting Chief of Police Jo Thibodeau suspects otherwise, but she can’t prove it or even put her finger on what’s wrong – yet.

I didn’t know until I read the author’s note at the end that this story was inspired by the author’s own neighbourhood in Maine. Had I known that beforehand, I think I’d have enjoyed the story more. Because I didn’t, I thought perhaps she was hoping to attract fans of The Thursday Murder Club, whose main character is a retired spook.

But back to the story. Maggie has been living on her small farm in Maine for a couple of years and has become friends with her neighbour and his teenaged granddaughter. Maggie and Callie bond over their mutual interest in chickens and sell their eggs together at the markets.

Out of the blue, a woman comes to Maggie’s house with a call to action that Maggie has trouble ignoring. She goes to her friends’ house for their ‘book club’ meeting, which is really just a gossip session of old spooks as they enjoy 6 o’clock martinis followed by a potluck dinner.

“When I pull up in front of Lloyd and Ingrid’s handsome white colonial, I see that Ben Diamond’s black Subaru is parked across the street and Declan’s blue Volvo is down near the corner, which tells me the gang’s all here.
. . .
Ben Diamond was the first to plant a flag here, nine years ago.
. . .
A few years later he recruited Ingrid and Lloyd, and then Declan, to retire here as well. I have no doubt there are others like us quietly living out their retirements throughout Maine, a state that’s long been used by the Agency as a convenient location for safe houses.”

The chapters move between now and at various points in the past, with the main focus on Maggie, who narrates her story in the first person, the only character to do so. But also featured is Jo Thibodeau and her local background, growing up and staying in the town where the Thibodeaus have lived for 250+ years.

Diana is a former spy with whom Maggie reluctantly worked years ago but who has dropped out of sight. Now, she must be found, and Maggie is the one tasked to do it.

This is not a cosy, and it’s not all fun and games with heart-warming people. Maggie gets the most comprehensive treatment, and is someone I would recognise if I met her. The same for Jo, I think. The others are a bit more peripheral, but they do flesh out the story – both the past and present.

It was easy to see how Maggie was drawn into the life and also why she was anxious some years earlier to leave it. But she (and we) were never entirely sure about some of her nearest and dearest, so when she’s left alone in Maine now, it’s not unexpected.

Getting dragged kicking and screaming out of retirement was certainly a surprise to her, though, although Declan put it well.

“ ‘First they tell us we’ve gotten too old for the business. Then they come to us, looking for help when they realize they don’t know what they’re doing. Let them learn on the job, the way we did.’ He taps his head. ‘It’s still all there. Every little detail, if they’d just bother to ask us.’”

But Maggie’s realistic. “ ‘Young people move in, and we are expendable. So we putter along in our quiet little village … ’”

And that’s been true – until now. The action ramps up in the present day and the book turns into a deadly thriller. There’s a murder at Maggie’s farm, and Jo, the Acting Chief of Police, finds Maggie with her friends at their book club dinner party.

Nobody seems shocked to hear of a murder, which raises Jo’s suspicions – that, and they claim this to be a meeting of The Martini Club, the name that springs to Maggie’s mind when Jo asks. The others nod.

And from there, for us, it’s a long way down the rabbit hole that is Maggie’s past and then back up to her future, in action again.

“I step over the body and keep moving. It’s the story of my life. Leave the bodies behind and move on.”

She had hoped to leave that life behind, but I wonder if we'll see more of Maggie and The Martini Club.

It’s an entertaining premise with believable characters, although I can’t say I developed any particular affection for anyone – except maybe Jo Thibodeau, who was up against some seriously experienced professionals, but seemed to understand there were a lot of secrets among them. There were times that I was a bit impatient for the story to get to the point, but overall, it’s a good read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the preview copy of #TheSpyCoast for review.

I will not go into detail about what this novel is about because I think the synopsis does a great job of it. But what I will say is The Spy Coast is fantastic!

It is a spy mystery/thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat at times, squeeze your heart with love and emotion, make you gasp, and have you rooting for these wonderful characters (Maggie, Ben, Ingrid, Lloyd, and Declan) who you will want at your next dinner party. We also have the young, small town police chief, Jo Thibodeau, who is perplexed as to why her busy in the summer/sleepy in the winter tourist town In Maine, is suddenly experiencing major serious crime.

I enjoyed how the story has the home base of a quaint Maine town, but will take you around the world to various interesting locales. The characters are intriguing, older, wiser, have experience, and are memorable. The story is a glimpse into a fascinating world. The Spy Coast is the first in a series, and I will absolutely be picking up the next one.