Oh, how nice it is to be back with The Martini Club! I read the first book in this series last year and I anxiously awaited the second book in the series. My love for Maggie Bird and her collection of retired CIA friends and Jo, the police officer in the small town of Purity, Maine knows no bounds. We jump right back into the action with this book. The Martini Club and Jo have a missing young girl, a new family member to one of the prominent “summer guest” families who vacation in Purity yearly. The mystery of her disappearance takes many twists and turns, and the readers are taken on a wild ride that hits close to home for The Martini Club. I absolutely loved this book. I found these books to be incredibly easy to read and unputdownable. I really enjoyed this case and loved how we got more character development, especially with Jo. I said at the end of the last book that she was becoming one of my favorite characters, and she continues to be such an integral part of these books. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series, and hope it goes on forever! HIGHLY recommend to anybody who loves a mystery/police procedural with lots of twists and turns! 4.5/5 stars!

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

Lately there have been many books where the central characters have been retiree aged. The Martini Club is Tess Gerritsen's contribution to my collection of books that kept me up all night reading. THE SUMMER GUESTS is book #2 in this excellent series. But then, I don't think Tess Gerritsen can write anything less than a 5 star read.
The Martini Club is a group of retired friends who meet monthly to discuss a book and have a potluck dinner. This group of friends has a particular set of talents, they are all retired CIA undercover agents who moved to Purity, Maine to get away from the "life". But this group, along with temporary Police Chief Jo, are not willing to let anything bad happen in their county, especially when it affects their friends. One of the best things of this series is the stories all contain several story arcs that will eventually thread together but serve to keep the action tense and their attention split. Gerritsen also doesn't portray these characters as super heroes. They are older, slower and not always wiser as they pool resources to help solve some crimes that have nothing but questions when first discovered.
If you have not read THE MARTINI CLUB, don't worry, you still have time to "discover" the series without being too far behind. You don't necessaryily have to read them in order, but both books are excellent, so treat yourself. 5 easy stars from this satisfied reader.

This is a great new series with five retired CIA agents living in a small town in Maine who just aren't able to stay retired. When a young girl goes missing, the group gets to work to "assist" the local police even when that assistance isn't wanted. Very entertaining.

I enjoyed this second installment of The Martini Club series. I'm glad I read The Spy Coast first because I got introduced to the members of the club and to the acting police chief Jo Thibodeau, all who feature heavily in this story. The mystery in this book stands alone though.

I really enjoyed my time in Purity, Maine again. This one starts with a teenage girl, Zoe, a summer resident who goes missing. The Martini Club comes to the rescue, and they, along with acting police chief Jo Thibodeau, begin to investigate.

This story has a two-pronged mystery, and readers get to see how the past and the present collide to bring the various solutions to light. I like the humor and the unique angle the retired CIA agents bring to the story.

I can't wait to see what Gerritsen comes up with next for the residents and visitors to Purity. We can guess it will be a mystery that the members of the Martini Club will help to solve.

I absolutely loved Maggie Bird and The Martini Club, comprised of ex-CIA members. They're facing two different mysteries after a teenager vanishes and a body is found in a pond. I love seeing characters portrayed as smart and active at older ages, especially with their counterpart and ally, acting police chief Jo, being in a position to learn a little from them. I jumped into the series here and was able to follow along without an issue. It seems the cases in each book are different enough not to spoil too much. This book is more cozy than dark which would appeal to fans of cozy and regular detective mystery.

The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen is an enthralling mystery involving Maggie and the Martini Club book club.. They work on their own and eventually with the police to solve the crime of the missing girl.

This new instalment in The Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen is fantastic. The first novel, The Spy Coast, was one of my favourites of 2023, and this year’s The Summer Guests is a solid addition.
The setting in small town Purity, Maine is just as atmospheric as before and the entire story revolves around the disappearance of a teenager while she’s visiting the area with her wealthy family. Retired ex-CIA agents, aka The Martini Club, are once again part of the fray at the behest of local police chief, Jo Thibodeau.
The mystery around the teen’s disappearance dredges up questions about suspicious neighbours and old, buried secrets. The Martini Club with their dry humour and unique talents continue to fascinate.
The Summer Guests is a mystery/suspense that is worth the ride and is a good choice for your beach bag this summer.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the electronic arc in exchange for my honest review.

In the second book of the retired CIA series, the Martini Club works with local law enforcement to find a lost teenaged aged summer guest. Using their observation and deductive skills, Maggie Bird and company slowly learn to trust acting chief of police, Jo Thibodeau and she learns to trust them. As the reader, I do wish they came into their partnership a little quicker, however, as the separately finding clues and puzzle pieces got tedious after a few chapters.

Overall I found this murder mystery to be a satisfying and decent read. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the chance to read this novel.

The Summer Guests is book 2 in the Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen. I absolutely loved the first book in the series and was excited to read this one. The Summer Guests is a fantastic mystery with the same characters we met in book 1. This book finds Maggie Bird and her group helping Jo Thibodeau, the police chief, solve a case of a missing girl. Maggie and her group are all ex-CIA and retired to Maine for solitude and peace. They have a book club and call themselves the Martini Club. They cook for each other and always have plenty of alcoholic beverages on hand.

A wealthy family, the Conover's, own a mansion on the lake. They come for the summer and then leave. Everyone on one side of the lake is wealthy with large homes, while the people on the other side of the lake are working hard to maintain their small cottages. They live here year round. When Ethan and Susan come to visit because of a memorial service for Ethan's father. Ethan doesn't enjoy being around his family and doesn't make the trip in the summer normally. Susan's daughter, Zoe, from her first marriage is a teenager who loves to swim. She's on the swim team at home and also trains regularly to hold her breath for long periods. Zoe is psyched to see the large lake and gets in her swimsuit immediately. She thinks of herself as a mermaid.

Ethan is a writer and is hoping to get started on a new book while visiting. He doesn't have his computer, so he's writing everything down the old fashioned way. He got an idea for the book and can't stop writing. When Susan goes out to see parts of Maine, Ethan stays home to write. He promises to keep an eye on Zoe. Zoe makes a new friend while swimming and she wants her to come home with her. She has a cow, goats, and other animals that Zoe wants to see. Zoe tells Ethan that she's going to see the animals, but he's busy writing, and says okay. When Susan comes home from her sightseeing and shopping trip, she calls for Zoe. She can't find her anywhere. When she asks Ethan where she is, he tells her she make a friend, and went home with her to see the animals.

Susan is happy for Zoe, but concerned that Ethan doesn't know who this girl is or where she lives. She immediately begins to worry. When Susan tries to call Zoe there's no answer. The cell coverage in Purity, Maine is spotty at best. It's probably just that. As the hours go by and dinner is finishing up, Susan is beyond worried. She's in a panic state and decides to call the police. Ethan's family thinks she's overreacting and make her feel crazy. When Jo arrives and Susan tells her what happened, she thinks she knows where to find Zoe. She drives to Maggie Bird's neighborhood as her neighbor has a granddaughter about Zoe's age and they have animals. Unfortunately, Jo doesn't find Zoe. She was there visiting the animals, but was dropped off back at the lake house hours ago. What is going on? Who would take a teenage girl? Would she run away?

As Jo and the Martini Club start diving into the case they find lots more than they anticipated. There are many people who are suspects in the girl's disappearance and finding out who knows what happened will be difficult. The Summer Guests will keep you guessing until the end. I thought I had it figured out, but I was wrong. If you love mysteries, you will really enjoy this book! I love the Martini Club and enjoy them helping Jo solve cases! I rate The Summer Guests 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. The book is out now and should be added to your TBR piles immediately! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Summer Guests in exchange for a fair review. #TheSummerGuests

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

Tess agerritsen never fails to excite you and tell a story that keeps you glued to the pages. You're captured from chapter one with a plot that has so many twists and turns.

Maggie Bird is refreshing as a spy of a certain age. Proof you don't lose skills just because you age.

Highly recommended
Thanks to @netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this earc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Reading challenge category - 2025 PopSugar: Set in or around a body of water (Maiden Pond)

Thanks to #NetGalley for the arc ebook.

The second book in the "Martini Club" series, I enjoyed this one more than the intial book, "The Spy Coast." The first book felt more like a mission impossible, stealth spy novel with retired CIA agents. This one fit the description better for me - retired CIA agents in a small Maine town assist with solving a crime. This was a slow burn book with multiple storylines interwoven together, creating some red herrings, but it all comes together in a bow at the end.

This sequel to The Spy Coast is another good one! The Martini Club is back and this eclectic group of retired CIA agents led by Maggie Bird is once again proving that they're way smarter than and many steps ahead of the local police. This time, they're involved in the investigation of a missing teenager. Maggie's neighbor and good friend has been arrested. She knows he's innocent and the Martini Club is going to help her prove it. Part of the investigation involves searching a nearby pond to see if the girl drowned. What the police find in the pond makes the case even more complex and deep secrets from the past start to come to the surface. I'm really enjoying this series and hope to read more Martini Club adventures in the future. Thanks to #netgalley and #Thomas&Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in the The Martinie Club series. I loved this book so so much!
If you like mystery books involving missing person with families that have sketchy pasts, then this book is for you.
The book has an amazing group of characters including a former spy and ex-CIA friends!!
The twists and turns were amazing and just when you think you know who did it, you will be proven wrong :)
I have loved every book Tess Gerritsen has written and this one did not disappoint!
Thank you NetGalley and RandomHouse for an early copy of this book!

A mystery that is about a cold case and a current case, sitting somewhere between cosy and general mystery. The best thing about this book is returning to the regular characters. Maggie and her gang of retired spies and Jo, the interim police chief of the local area. Gerritsen has a knack for writing compelling characters, and this is a fine example. In this book, the author exposes the way small town prejudices can take hold and drive choices.

With this story I felt a Gothic vibe, with the lake playing a prominent role and the run-down shack on the opposite shore. There's a sense of isolation in some of the scenes, even a creepy vibe, and when that is contrasted against strong characters who bring with them a modern development, but find themselves almost trapped in a way in this large house near the lake, trapped by a mystery and a tragedy, it makes the Gothic vibe even stronger.

So, just like characters, Gerritsen has a way of describing settings in a book that make you take note.

The one thing I wanted in this book, but didn't get, is more of Maggie and the gang in action. I enjoyed that very much in the first book and hope I see more of that in future books in the series.

Enjoyable. But read book one before you read this book.

Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tess Gerritsen delivers a captivating tale in The Summer Guests, the second installment of the Martini Club series. I received a copy from Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley.

The story is set in the charming town of Purity, Maine. The Martini Club—a group of retired operatives—once again finds themselves caught in a web of intrigue. This time, their idyllic summer in Maine is disrupted by the arrival of guests who have their own secrets.

The setting, with its small-town charm and hints of danger lurking beneath the surface, feels almost like a character in itself. You are drawn into the intricacies of the town and its residents, creating a vivid backdrop for the unfolding drama.

It also delves deep into themes of trust, redemption, and the complexities of human relationships, with brilliant twists and turns expertly woven in the story.

Hopefully, there will be many more in this series!

5/5 ⭐️

**4.5 stars**

This is the second book of the Martini Club series and I can’t wait for book 3. While I’m not nearly as old as the members of the Martini Club I’m not a youngster either so I greatly appreciate reading a book with characters not in their 20s.

I loved the mystery in this book, I did not guess all of it which I loved. I loved how Dr Gerritsen had all of these small details from the past and the present that were woven together at the end. I’d personally love be one of the dreaded “summer guests” and visit Maine during the summer months.

I highly recommend both books in this series and eagerly awaiting book 3.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**,

Maggie Bird retired from the CIA so she could enjoy a quiet life in the small town of Purity, Maine. Sometimes it's hard to leave the past behind. Maggie gets support from other ex-CIA friends who have also moved to the area. Since they love to drink cocktails, they have dubbed themselves The Martini Club.
The interim police chief is Jo Thibodeau. The Martini Club members helped her find an abducted girl the previous summer. Now, one of the summer residents has a teenager missing. The relatives of the teenager believe that Maggie's neighbor is guilty and needs to be arrested. Even though Jo figures she can solve this crime, she knows the Martini Club will be on top of all leads.
When the lake, in front of some of the homes, is searched a body is found. This leads to past secrets along with red herrings in the search for the current missing girl. It seems that often people aren't as the seem from the exterior.
THE SUMMER GUESTS is the sequel to THE SPY COAST. Both are engaging reads. I loved getting to know all of the characters in the Martini Club. Tess Gerritsen must done a good bit of research to make them authentic. It is great when authors use more mature characters. They resonate with me as a retired person.
The reader really needs to read THE SPY COAST first before THE SUMMER GUESTS. I hope the author writes more in this fascinating series.

The Martini Club is a book club that meets to enjoy drinks together and occasionally discuss a book. They are all in their seventies and, as ex-CIA agents, they all possess unique skills. They may be retired, but when a teenager disappears they use those skills to assist acting sheriff Jo Thibodeau, whether she wants their help or not. Maggie Bird’s neighbor was the last person to see Zoe Conover. When Zoe visited his farm with his granddaughter he gave her a ride back to the summer estate where she was staying. As a suspect he asks Maggie for help and she gathers the other members of the Martini Club. The Conovers are the wealthiest family living on Maiden Pond and they demand a swift solution to Zoe’s disappearance. She was an avid swimmer and when the police check the pond they find a skeleton that opens a second investigation. Maggie and her friends always seem to be one step ahead of Jo. Their persistence finally connects Zoe’s disappearance to the skeleton and events that had occurred years earlier.

Tess Gerritson’s story is a mystery filled with twists. Her setting in Maine is an idyllic summer destination that hides secrets dating back to the 1970s. Her characters welcome you to pull up a chair to observe their conversations. While their physical abilities may not be what they were as active agents, their minds are sharp and Jo, who suspected that they were more than meddling seniors, has finally learned to listen. Gerritsen keeps you guessing to the end and will have you looking forward to the return of the Maritini Club. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for providing this book.

Former spies, several local residents, an acting police chief, and summer visitors come together in the second book in The Martini Club crime series. Maggie, Declan, Ben, Irene, and Irene’s husband Lloyd have retired to Purity, Maine. It’s a seaside village with several homes on Maiden Pond. Ready for a quiet life after extensive travel for their jobs, they’ve formed a book club and regularly meet to discuss books and enjoy drinks and potluck dinners.

However, Purity isn’t as quiet as one might think and is full of secrets. Acting Chief of Police Jo Thibodeau ends up with two mysteries that start with a missing teenager there on vacation. When Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance, the Martini Club joins forces to investigate despite Jo’s objections.

The five friends in the Martini Club have depth of character. I loved the analogy that was given between sparrows and spies. Both are unobtrusive, unnoticeable, and slip in everywhere without rousing any attention. However, I didn’t feel like this held true throughout the story. Are the retired spies losing their edge? I also enjoyed getting to know Jo. As acting chief of police, she’s hoping to fill the position permanently while dealing with the ramp up of tourist season, the missing teenager, and a state police detective who doesn’t do a great job of investigating and treats her like she’s his subordinate.

The story immediately pulls one in with a prologue set in 1972 before shifting to current times. It’s told from several perspectives including Maggie, Jo, Reuben Tarkin, a permanent resident of the town, and Susan, the mother of the missing teenager. While this adds to the depth of the story, it also tended to slow the pacing.

The author writes well and makes the scenes come alive. I could easily envision the people and places in Purity and its surrounding area. There’s also a historical aspect that comes into play during the latter part of the book that added another level of complexity and interest. There are several twists, including one that caught me completely off-guard. Additional threads that run through the novel include family, secrets, death, disappearances, influence, wealth, infidelity, loyalty, and much more.

Overall, this entertaining and suspenseful novel has great world-building and characterization. It also has some lighter moments as the Martini Club meet to discuss books, life, friendship, and more that add another layer to the novel. I think reading the books in order would provide more background on the town and the main characters, but it worked well as a standalone novel. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series.

Thomas and Mercer and Tess Gerritsen provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for March 18, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

4.25⭐
It's the return of The Martini Club, that Maine-based group of retired ex-spies who lend their talents and experience to helping solve local crimes. When a teenage girl goes missing in Purity, suspicion falls on various locals. Maggie and her friends unofficially track clues, check satellite data and ask lots of questions. While the acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau, has a grudging respect for their competence, she's grappling for control of the case with detective from the state. Well written and cleverly plotted. Entertaining mystery. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.