The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen is the second book in the Martini Club series. I very much enjoyed the first, The Spy Coast and this was - as much, if not even more - enjoyable. From memory the investigation in the first book centred around the former CIA (et al) club members' old lives whereas this is more of a straight-forward whodunnit (and as importantly whydunnit). And I was rivetted. I adored catching up with the Martini Club members again though Maggie (again) was the standout and our lead character, along with Purity Police Chief Jo Thibodeau, who we met in the first outing.

We also spend a lot of time here with the likeable Susan, who's holidaying with her in-laws for the first time at their palatial holiday home in Purity when her very trustworthy and sensible 15 year old daughter, Zoe disappears.

Complicating matters here are long-held small-town grievances... not to mention bones discovered in the lake where Zoe was last seen.

But Jo's on the case and discouraging the Martini Club's involvement, at the same time knowing she can't stop them or discount the help they're providing as they're uniquely qualified and absurdly talented at digging up information not accessible to most.

I hadn't really remembered the club members and their respective strengths and Gerritsen doesn't really spend (or perhaps waste?) time reminding us who is who, or at least giving us much backstory. I appreciated that as it means the pacing of the novel is uninterrupted, but I did perhaps not feel as connected to them as I recall feeling first time out. Though I assume after a few books they'll stick in my mind - which is the case with other series I enjoy. (On that note) I noticed Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series is being adapted for the small screen and this would also be an exceptionally good series with quirky characters who just don't take no for an answer, but who do so with guileless determination rather than arrogance.

Gerritsen throws us some red herrings here and goes down the conspiracy route again (long-buried government secrets to which the former CIA agents are privy) but, as I'm not a huge fan of white-collar-crime, I appreciated the direction this takes.

I really enjoyed this and found it hard to put down both evenings I picked it up. There's something warm and familiar about the characters, though it's not quite a 'comfort read'. Here for example the baddie's treatment of Zoe is astoundingly callous it morphs from a cosy(ish) read into something more evil and quite shocking even to this reader-of-books-regularly-featuring-sociopaths-and-psychopaths.

4.5 stars

Gerritsen is a great writer and this book is no exception. It's chilling and exciting and most of all an adventure to read. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

This book was such a quick and fun read. The Summer Guests tells the story of the disappearance of Zoe Conover, the step granddaughter of a wealthy family at their summer home in Maine. There are a lot of moving parts, subplots and red herrings thrown into the plot, but they all add interesting elements to the story. I loved revisiting Police Chief Jo Thibodeau and The Martini Club members. I really enjoy a quick and smart police procedural and look forward to the next installment in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another entertaining mystery in Purity, ME. The Martini Club steps in, uninvited, to help the Purity police chief locate a missing girl. I am enjoying this series, and I look forward to reading more about the crimes and secrets of this small Maine community.

Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer and Tess Gerritsen for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This is book 2 in the Martini Club series and I read them back to back!

I really enjoyed this book, it was a lovely pace and I raced through the pages. I enjoyed catching up with Maggie and her friends and it was great to have some characters from the first book included too. It he story is told from several points of view so it’s good to see how the book ties together. It kept me on the edge of my seat and there were some great twists!

The Summer Guests picks up a couple of months after The Spy Coast. Everything seems to be back to normal for the retired spies in Purity, but then a teenage summer guest goes missing and the last people to see her alive are returning characters Callie and Luther Yount. Can Maggie and the Martini Club members and Police Chief Jo Thibodeau find Zoe Conover before it’s too late?

Another great Tess Gerritsen Martini Club adventure. Lots of twists and red herrings throughout to keep the reader wanting more. Can't wait for their next adventure 4.5 stars

I loved the Spy Coast and I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book. It was a great follow up and I loved it. Seventy year old ex CIA agents, what is not to love. I have long been a fan of Tess Gerritsen and will read and almost always recommend anything she writes. Please keep this series going!!

I LOVED The Spy Coast, and was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of the second installment in the series, The Summer Guests. This series follows a group of former (spy) coworkers, who retire in the small town of Purity, Maine, and retired or not, spies will always find something to investigate.

While The Summer Guests was still enjoyable, I will say I liked the first book significantly more. I wasn't able to put it down, whereas The Summer Guests I was more lazily reading through. This plotline just didn't grab me quite as much. I will still be continuing to read this series as I'm attached to the characters and want to see what they do next. I'd put my rating at about a 3.75.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tess Gerritsen and Thomas & Mercer for this advanced copy of The Summer Guests, publishing March 18, 2025.

🍸 The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen 🕵️‍♀️🌊

Get ready for secrets, suspense, and a healthy dose of espionage! In The Summer Guests, Tess Gerritsen spins a thrilling tale of mystery and friendship in the quiet seaside town of Purity, Maine. When ex-CIA agent Maggie Bird’s peaceful retirement is threatened by a string of dark events, she and her book club of fellow retired spies—the Martini Club—jump back into action. Alongside Police Chief Jo Thibodeau, they’re out to solve two gripping mysteries: a missing teenager and a long-buried body with secrets that refuse to stay hidden.

With a cast of sharp, intriguing characters and unexpected twists around every corner, this novel kept me hooked from start to finish. Gerritsen perfectly balances small-town charm with high-stakes tension, making it impossible to put down. If you love thrillers with a dash of spy intrigue and unforgettable friendships, The Summer Guests is a must-read! I found this sways to the cozy side, but just barely!

BTW, this is the second in the series, which I picked up on quickly, but kept struggling to figure out what the first book was. It took me a bit, but I did figure it out. I do recommend reading these in order. Otherwise it will give away some major spoilers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 /5

Would you join a “spy” book club like the Martini Club? 🍸Personally, I say "Sign Me Up!'

Love this new series and can't wait to read more - a really clever twakeon small town inhabitants and mystery. I also love that the main character group is older. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Tess Gerritsen’s latest thriller, The Summer Guests, is a masterful blend of suspense, mystery, and character-driven storytelling. As the second installment in the Martini Club series, this novel plunges us back into the lives of four retired CIA operatives who have settled in a quaint town in Maine, only to find themselves embroiled in yet another gripping case.

The story begins with the disappearance of a local teenager, a case that quickly reveals unsettling connections to the Martini Club’s own pasts. Gerritsen expertly weaves together multiple plot threads, creating a tapestry of intrigue that spans decades. The narrative is fast-paced, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that compels you to keep reading.

One of Gerritsen’s strengths lies in her ability to create complex, relatable characters. The members of the Martini Club are no exception. Each character is meticulously developed, with their own backstories and motivations that add depth to the narrative. The dynamic between the club members is particularly engaging, as their camaraderie and shared history provide both tension and moments of levity.

The Summer Guests explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the long shadows cast by past actions. Gerritsen delves into the psychological impact of the characters’ former lives as spies, examining how their pasts continue to influence their present. This introspective element adds a layer of emotional resonance to the thriller, making it more than just a page-turner.

Gerritsen’s writing is crisp and evocative, with vivid descriptions that bring the setting to life. The small-town atmosphere is beautifully rendered, creating a stark contrast to the dark secrets that lie beneath the surface. Her dialogue is sharp and realistic, further immersing the reader in the story.

In The Summer Guests, Tess Gerritsen delivers a thrilling, emotionally charged narrative that will satisfy both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. With its well-crafted plot, richly drawn characters, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is a standout in the thriller genre. Whether you’re a fan of crime fiction or psychological thrillers, The Summer Guests is a must-read that promises to leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment in the Martini Club series.

The Summer Guests is the second book in the Martini Club series and to really get a feel for the characters read the books in order. A teenage girl goes missing in one of the quiet neighborhoods of Purity, Maine. A search for the girl turns up bones at the bottom of the lake but not those of the teenager. The retired spies of the Martini Club led by Maggie Bird step up to help the young police chief Jo Thibodeau find the girl and solve a murder from the past. The girl’s rich family is hiding long buried secrets that Maggie and her friends must use their unique skills to uncover while keeping the innocent out of prison and finding and protecting the teenager. Unpredictable and intriguing, the story is a twisted mystery that I didn’t want to put down. The Martini Club members are spunky, intelligent, and interesting characters that just keep getting better the more you read them. I love this series so much that the next book in the series will automatically go on my to be read shelf. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

The second in the Martini club series, one I hope will endure for many years, sees Maggie and her friends help….or get in the way of the police, to look for a teenage girl Zoe who has gone missing. She is one of the summer families who spend the warmer months in Maine in a small town called Purity. The search for Zoe leads to the discovery of a body in the lake and it seems Zoe’s disappearance is linked to the body although it has been in the lake some 40 years. There are quite a few suspects in Zoe’s disappearance and the Martini Club are one step ahead of the police all the way.
This series is going to be a fun read. After Richard Osmans Thursday Murder Club came out and was an instant hit, I read a lot of stories where people had copied his idea and some, let’s face it, were so similar it was a wonder they got published. True this is a group of old people solving murders, but being retired spies this makes the stories that much more fun. The books are easy reads but also page turners. Pleased to report book 1 in the series, The Spy Coast, sold out at my work.

#TheSummerGuests. #NetGalley.

In the latest gripping installment by Tess Gerritsen a master of the mystery genre, readers are treated to a tale that intertwines intricate plot twists with rich character development. Even when things don't go entirely as planned, the author’s experience shines through, showcasing a keen understanding of pacing and suspense. The narrative is both compelling and thought-provoking, leaving readers guessing until the very end.
The author has an extraordinary ability to build tension, drawing readers into a labyrinth of clues and red herrings. The atmospheric setting, combined with well-crafted dialogue, immerses you in the world of the characters, making it difficult to put the book down. This latest mystery not only solidifies the author's reputation but also reinforces their place as one of my favorites in the genre.

I am a big fan of Tess Gerritsen and as expected, the second book of the Martini Club did not disappoint. The story got my interest right from the first page and it was very hard to put it down. I really enjoyed the storytelling, the mystery and the wit of the Martini Club members. I highly recommend it.

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great continuation of The Martini Club story. All the familiar characters with a new mystery to solve. It had a few twists that I didn't see coming and kept me guessing as to how it was all going to play out and come together in the end. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

When a teenager from a wealthy summer family disappears from the swimming pond, and Maggie Bird's neighbor is implicated, she enlists the help of her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA— who use their unique skills to find the truth.
This was a well plotted and fast paced thriller full of suspense and red herrings. I simply could not put this book down until I found out what happened to the teen. And what is the identity of the long dead corpse found in the pond? This is one of the best books I have read this year and I highly recommend it if you enjoy a good suspense.

Book 2 of a new series. The characters are wonderful and the story flows well. This was a quick read for me, I couldn't stop reading. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

The Summer Guests is a great follow up to The Spy Coast. We get to follow our favorite former spies as they work on a new, local case. When Maggie's neighbor becomes the suspect, she and her friends work to clear his name and help the acting police chief unravel the mystery.

I loved the setting of the story, and Maggie and the other ex-spies are delightful. More suspense than fast-paced thriller, the mystery lasts right up to the end.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Thomas&Mercer for a free copy of #TheSummerGuests by Tess Gerritsen. All opinions are my own.

The Summer Guests is the 2nd book in the Martini Club series, in which a group of retired spies who all live in a small Maine town assist the local sheriff in solving crimes. In this installment, a young girl goes missing, and the Club springs into action as one of spies neighbors is the prime suspect. There’s a secondary backstory here which cleverly leaves the reader hanging, and the plot gets more mysterious as the chapters play out. The interaction between the spies and the sheriff is the appeal here, as the Martini Club is always one step ahead of the locals, and the sheriff’s frustration (and admiration) is on full display. This is an entertaining read, although it seems to take a little too long for the Club to get involved, but once they do, the book takes off, and here’s hoping there’s more to come in this series. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.