I was looking forward to reading this as I've enjoyed Mary Kay's previous books. Sadly, this was not as good. The setting was lovely - who wouldn't enjoy a beachside resort with all the trimmings? - but there was so much going on and far too many characters for it to be a good read.
The cover makes it look like it's a beach read, but it's actually a mix of a murder mystery with new adult with romance. It starts out with Traci Eddings missing her husband who died in a helicopter crash and then we are introduced to her lovely niece and toxic in-laws, followed by multiple characters who are hired to work at the hotel for the summer followed by an out-of-town detective. Mix in murder and theft and attempted murder and you have a book that doesn't really know what it is.

One of the best Andrews books I’ve read, Summer at the Saint has a strong plot and nuanced characters that make the story whole. The Saint is a well known five star resort owned by the Eddings family that Traci, widow to one of the sons runs. Besides not being able to find help, something strange is going on as the hotel seems to keep losing money. Fighting with her terrible brother in law, Traci is determined the hotel and home she loves will stay in business. A fun beach read that’s also a mystery, summers at the Saint doesn’t miss.

This was a fun, quick beach read. The characters are compelling and you want to root for them. The story had a satisfying ending.

Summers at the Saint by Mary Kay Andrews

448 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: May. 7, 2024

Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Murder, Amateur Detective, Romance, Vacation Resort, Island

Flashback to 2002 when Traci and her best friend, Shannon Grayson, were lifeguards at the Saint Cecelia owned by the Eddings family. When Hudson, a little boy, drowned, they performed CPR, but their efforts did not bring him back. Shannon was fired but Traci stayed. She was dating Hoke, the younger Eddings son.

Traci, now a widow, is the president of the Saint. She is trying to make sure she has enough staff for the season and recruits her niece, Parrish, to cover guest relationship. She then scoops up Livvy as a server and Felice as a chef. Ric informs her that he is helping a friend by giving his son, KJ, a job after he flunked out of Wake Forest. They are joined by senior server Garrett, who has worked at the Saint since he was in high school. Together the workers are living in a building converted into a dorm. Relations become heated within the staff and backstabbing begins. Who will be left standing when all is said and done?

The story has a steady pace. The tension between Traci and the Eddings family is so thick you can cut it with a knife. The characters are developed, and it is written in the third person point of view. There are a few surprises and twists along the way that makes this a truly rewarding read. I finished it in a day because I could not put it down. This book reminds me of previous mysteries by the author. featuring Weezie and Bebe in Savannah. If you like amateur detective books in a vacation destination setting, you will enjoy reading this book. Hats off to the author!

I'm a long time fan of Mary Kay Andrews and was excited to read Summers at the Saint. This is one of my new favorites from her. I loved all the different mysteries in this one - even though I figured out pieces / parts before the reveal all the twists and turns were still very satisfying and I loved the characters. I would love to see more from the Saint / Traci similar to the Weezie and Bebe Mysteries series books. I hope this isn't the last we see of the Saint!

I received ARC from NetGalley and read this in 1 day!
It’s a great story with a lot of characters and with some romance some mystery and murder involved. I really enjoyed the story and the whole concept behind it.
When Traci Eddings was growing up & wasn’t good enough to socialize with the kids who were guests at the “Saint” eventually married the son & became COO of the Saint. Taking her responsibilities very seriously and doing the absolute best for the resort. Even when she had everything going against her.
Well done!!

This was a fun, easy read! I had an ARC from NetGalley. I was entertained enough to read the entire thing in a day, so that’s something. There are a lot of characters to keep up with, but the story is pretty good and moves along at a good pace. There were a few clunky transitions in the plot, but if you want a light read with a side of “whodunnit”, this is a good pick.

This had a small romance, friendships, family drama, & murder. Decent but felt that it was a little long. Therefore, at times it felt repetitive & dragged towards the end.

What a cute story!!!! Mary Kay Andrew just always knows how to give all the cozy summer feels! If you love quick beach reads this is your book!

As usual MKA does not disappoint. I have loved all her books and this one is no exception. An beach read with a great twisty story line. I recommend all her books including this one.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.