Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrew’s is a slow burn thriller that picked up speed and doesn’t look back. A case of who done it being investigated by a couple of amateur new employees turned detectives at the Saint almost turns into another tragedy but goodness prevails and the truth comes out in the end. Definitely not what I was expecting but I loved it!

There are two mysteries at the heart of the prolific Mary Kay Andrews' latest book, Summers at the Saint, both revolving around a 5-star Georgia resort nicknamed "The Saint." One involves an 8-year-old boy who inexplicably drowned in the swimming pool 20 years ago. The other is the suspicious death of a female summer employee of the hotel.

At the center of the plot is the ultracompetent (and, of course, beautiful) Traci Eddings, who was one of the lifeguards at the pool when the drowning occurred. Traci subsequently married into the resort owner's family, now running the hotel after the death of her husband, and she is finding it increasingly challenging to resolve some of the problems faced by the resort. The beach setting is glorious, and the hotel a popular beachside destination. But there are secrets that could undermine the very existence of The Saint and lead to more deadly events.

There is a large cast of characters in the story--from the arrogant wealthy owner and his wife to the diverse group of staff members to Traci's former best friend who hasn't spoken to her in years. There is also a bit of romance, which becomes a subplot only in the latter part of the book. With the exception of Traci, I found that the dearth of nuance in the characters and plot resulted in a predictable although satisfying resolution to both of the mysteries. But I can't deny that Mary Kay Andrews is a seasoned storyteller with many books to her credit and a dedicated following.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book.

In Mary Kay Andrews' Summers at the Saint, widow Traci Eddings finds herself thrust into the role of managing the Saint Cecelia resort after her husband's passing, navigating a web of family drama, financial troubles, and long-held secrets. As Traci and her team struggle to keep the resort afloat in a post-pandemic world, they uncover dark mysteries and suspicious activities that threaten to unravel everything they've worked for. Andrews expertly blends mystery, romance, and family intrigue against the backdrop of the sun-drenched Georgia coast, delivering a captivating tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Summers at the Saint is a delightful summer escape that offers the perfect blend of suspense and summer vibes, leaving readers longing for more of Andrews' storytelling magic.

According to the residents of the southern town some of us are Saints & some of us are ‘Aints.

Widow Traci Eddings was born an ‘Aint but as luck found her she fell for & married not just any Saint, but son of St. Cecelia’s owner. After his tragic passing she steps into the role of running the St. Cecelia to honor her husband’s legacy while keeping distance from her tyrant of a brother in law. When their annual summer kickoff bash turns deadly she’ll stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

Even as a newer fan of Mary Kay Andrews, Summer At The Saint surprised me. I expected a light summer beach read with a romantic flair. This reads more like a murder mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though at times it felt like a lengthy read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Mary Kay Andrews for this advanced copy & opportunity to read/review ahead of Summer at the Saint’s May 7th publication date!

Oh Mary Kay Andrews, how do you write such good stories? Ever since I read this galley, I've dreamed of the Saint. You've got to tell us what this was based on or create the beach vacation property of my dreams!

Summers at the Saint follows a cast of characters all living and working at an upscale beach property. What MKS does best is intertwine her characters so well. You're feeling so sorry for Parrish; wanting Whelan to find the answers; and hoping Ric gets what's coming for him.

The perfect summer book, this realistic, romantic, mystery will leave you longing for a summer at the Saint!

Just a Midwest girl loving this beautiful warm day. Kids are playing, and the sun is shining. ☀️🕶️

✨Review✨
Oh this was a good one, reading friends! A hotel on the beach, called St. Cecelia, also known as The Saint, belongs to a wealthy family on the coast of Georgia. Although a girl from the “ain’t” part of town who got a summer job years ago and married into this family, is widowed, and is trying to keep it going after a tragedy. Her brother in law, who is an absolute headache, and his unwanted drama makes everything harder. Since Covid and a shut down, the hotel is in the red. Traci tries to get creative and remodels the old golf cart shed to make a dorm room for hotel staff to have a free place to stay. But there’s been a murder, and the detectives are trying to figure out who was apart of this, and if it ties back to the drowning of a young boy years ago that was hushed. There’s love, there’s beach, there’s a murder, a mystery, and great characters in this book! Mary Kay Andrews is always on my TBR for a great kick off to summer book. This one comes out May 6, and I highly recommend it. Thank you for the advanced copy @marykayandrews @netgalley @stmartinspress! #netgalley #marykayandrews #summersatthesaint #netgalley

Summers at the Saint is a sun-soaked saga that takes you on a vacation to the St. Cecelia, where traditions are as sacred as Southern charm. This beach read is not just about sandy shores; it's a tale of wits, guts, and the surprises that make life at the Saint unforgettable. Four stars for a story with heart, humor, and a splash of Southern spice. Summers at the Saint – where the drama is as hot as the July sun!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mary Kay Andrews knows how to write an intriguing, fast-paced, page-turning novel! I can already see people lounging on the beach this summer with this fun book. Mary Kay Andrews is a master of writing a story that combines women's friendship, romance, and murder mystery.
I also love that it is set in a coastal area of Georgia.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press, for this ARC.

As a long time fan of Mary Kay Andrews, I always look forward to where her books will take me. This time , I was whisked away to The Saint, a historic beach retreat for those lucky or wealthy enough to be able to vacation there. The main character, Traci, grew up an "ain't" but marries into the Eddings family and after her husband dies in an accident, becomes part owner of his family legacy, The Saint. You are quickly introduced to a host of characters that at first can be a bit overwhelming but soon settles into a very interesting story unfolding from different viewpoints. While I am always hoping for romance in an MKA story, this book brought with it more of a family drama and mystery aspect which I ended up enjoying a lot. While Traci is trying to keep The Saint afloat for future generations, behind the scenes are employee thefts, a long ago murder investigation and family drama. By the end of the twist and turns, I was pleasantly surprised by the ending I didn't see coming.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews is published by St. Martin’s Press, New York. Summers at the Saint is due to be released May 7, 2024. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley.

Tracie lived across the bay from what as a youngster she thought of as a pink castle. Invited to a birthday party at this pink castle known as The Saint was her initial experience inside. Her next experience was as a sixteen year old, where she had her inadequacies pointed out again, only based on where she lived. But this place held a special place for Tracie, with her summer work at the ice cream parlor and warned by her manager not to socialize with the customers. Fast forward over twenty years, Tracie is a widow and the owner of The Saint, after mingling with one of the owner’s son.

Tracie is a childless widow, who became a very important and supportive aunt to her niece, Parrish. Tracie gets Parrish to work the front desk, instead of traveling Europe for the summer. Tracie also hires her former childhood best friend’s daughter. Tracie and Shannon have not talked since an accident while they were life guards at the Saint split them apart.

Things start to fall apart for Tracie after a death of a worker sets the resort on its ear. Other things start to become questionable such as inventory in the pro shop, poor fish/grocery suppliers for the kitchen, and lastly, the companies books look like they have been cooked.

Tracie struggles trying to put everything together to determine who is messing with her husband’s legacy.It is apparent, Ric, Tracie’s brother in law is low life two faced jerk is about to topple Tracie from her ownership of The Saints by finagling a will.

Tracie teams up with some honest employees and they begin to connect the dots to nefarious activity at the resort. Murder, arson, bribes, and affairs all come out in a delightful twist.

I really enjoyed this Mary Kay Andrew’s novel. Summers at the Saint has a bit more elaborate plot that many of the author’s books. This one has some romance, but is predominantly a mystery set along the shore. I would encourage readers to check this one out.

The perfect beach read! A little bit romance and a little bit mystery all mixed together. The family secrets all come out in the backdrop of the beautiful resort. It involves the upper class and working class at the resort that remain exclusive from each other until the tables turn. This was a fun read with a myriad of twists!

I have read many of Mary Kay Andrew’s books and she never disappoints. Summers at the Saint takes place at a luxury members and exclusive guests resort on an island in Georgia. It’s a family generational resort that has been in the family for decades. Traci the Saints owner is the widow of one of the sons whose family originally owned the Saint. Traci though was what they called an Aint’ when she was growing up as she grew up in town unable to afford to stay at the Saint, but worked there in the Summer. Traci met Hoke her late husband at the Saint. This books take place over one summer at the Saint and show that not all is simple and perfect in a luxurious world.

This books takes many unexpected turns and has you guessing and being surprised in the end. Mary Kay Andrew’s hooks you in right from the beginning as she always does. If you love a bit of mystery, light thriller with some romance. This book is the perfect beach read this summer. Couldn’t stop reading once I started.

This is my first Mary Kay Andrews book somehow, but it certainly won't be my last! It was a great read that will perfect for the summer. The setting was so beautifully described at the Saint resort that I felt that I was there and would want to visit! The drama and intrigue propelled the plot making it read like a thriller at many times! Definitely recommend for a fast-paced thrilling summer read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

What an amazing book. The Saint is actually a hotel whose full name is St. Cecelia, a landmark hotel on the coast of Georgie This is a family held hotel being run by Traci Eddings, whose husband Hoke has died and she is left running the hotel. As an outsider, one summer she married the boss's son, and as a widow, Traci is now running the hotel. However, the hotel has run into financial trouble, while other hotels are hiring some of her best staff, leaving her at wit's end to try and bring the hotel back to it's glory days, successfully and financially. Yet, there are members of the family who not only stand in her way, but expect to see her fail. Hiring a group of newbies, she could only hope she has the current summer season to turn the tide for the hotel. But, there is an event from the past that might come to the forefront and threatens to undermine her resolve. Not to mention a tragic death of one of the family bringing everything to the edge of despondency. .With the twists and turns along with great character development, you have a book that cannot be put down. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. You cannot go wrong when reading a book written by Mary Kay Andrews!

This book kept me guessing how it would end, right up until the end. I love anything MKA writes. She’s an all-star author. Summers at the Saint is a wonderful read that many book clubs will come to enjoy!

I enjoyed this title.. It will be a nice, easy to enjoy addition to our vacation/beach read selection.

Another fun summer read from Mary Kay Andrews! Her writing style is easy to read and the story moved along fairly quickly. It was a bit gimmicky in a few parts but overall, good story line, likable characters, and a satisfactory ending.

After the death of her husband, Traci manages The Saint, a hotel/resort catering to the wealthy.
Renovations done prior to her husband's death have left the hotel in a finacial bind and fing workers
is a problem. It doesn't help when her brother-in-law disagrees with the way she is managing the
hotel. When her niece, a worker, is killed, the question is why? As two of the workers investigate
the murder, a man has arrived to investigate the death of his half brother which occurred when
Traci worked as a lifeguard. The impact of the past on the present and employee loyalty
are laid out. Darker than previous reads from MKA.
#SummersattheSaint #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book! I loved getting to know all the characters. I liked the murder mystery aspect of it while also being a nice summer read. While reading, I couldn’t help but want summer to come faster. I was saddened by Parrish’s death but loved the plot and twists.

I enjoyed this new novel from Mary Kay Andrews. As always, she does an excellent job of placing you in the setting. I wish The Saint were a real (albeit not dysfunctional!) resort; it sounds like a great place to go relax and maybe read a little MKA poolside ;-)

Traci grows up in the small town near The Saint Cecelia, a posh resort catering to wealthy patrons. A tragedy in her teen years comes back to enter her life in a big way after the death of her husband decades later. As with any Mary Kay Andrews novel, female friendships and smart women are two running themes throughout.

I don't think there were too many surprises, but this is a solid beach read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a relaxing novel to read under a (pink?) striped umbrella.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy of Summers at the Saint in exchange for an honest review.