Published March 18, 2025
By Tess Gerritesen
Narrated by Hillary Huber

WOW! I was not expecting the twists and turns and events that took place to happen. Set in Purity Maine, where those who lived there lived a quiet life with breathtaking views. But life was far from quiet, especially for Maggie Bird, a retired former spy. Her wits and her circle of her ex CIA cocktail loving bookclub is how she survived. The book focuses on the Conover family who has vacationed every summer in Purity Maine. Being the first summer in a long time, Ethan finally goes back to spend time. Newly married to Susan who was a single mom with a 15 year old daughter, he brings his family, thinking something would be different. Ethan never liked the cabin as a kid. He planned to spend quiet time with his new family on the lake and getting that much needed time to write his second book.

Sheriff Jo Thibodeau is called to the Conover family home, when Zoe Conover disappears after playing with a local girl Callie and visiting her cow. This was the families first full day on the lake. The police all look at Callies grandpa’s the bad guy. Cue Maggie and her retired CIA friends. They need to find out what happened, and the need to prove their neighbors innocence. As much as Jo doesn’t like the Martini club getting involved they really do provide a special talent insight that can help solve the case.

Tess Gerritsen’s writing is incredible and it sucks you in to the point where you can’t put it down! It’s complex without being confusing. Tess knows how to write a mystery because I NEVER saw the ending coming at all, my jaw dropped to the floor when I heard what truly happened up at that cabin many years ago and all the secrets and lies the family was keeping.

I need more books in this series asap because this was just THAT good!

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

In this sequel to THE MARTINI CLUB, a group of retired spies is back on the case when a teenage girl disappears, and Maggie's neighbor is the prime suspect.

Sheriff Jo Thibodeau is called to the Conover home when Zoe Conover, newly adopted daughter of younger son Eathan, goes missing. While Zoe's mother Susan seems very upset, the rest of the family are seemingly writing the disappearance off as typical teenage behavior.

As Jo investigates, she learns that Maggie's neighbor Luther Yount was the last one to see her before she disappeared. He dropped her off at the boat dock near her home on Maiden Lake. Despite the fact the Zoe is an excellent swimmer, Susan demands that the lake be dragged in case something awful happened.

But there are other clues. Her backpack was found along a highway some miles from town and the lake and her cell phone is discovered in the bed of a local lowlife's truck. But Zoe isn't found, and the lake is dragged. Divers find a skeleton that is definitely not Zoe but is a mystery of its own.

The Martini Club are putting their skills to use to clear Luther's name, find Zoe, and identify the bones found in the lake. Their investigations lead them to a secret government operation that took place at Maiden Lake during the 1970s and a possible identification of the body in the lake.

Then Zoe is found by some hikers in still another direction from her phone and backpack. She is severely injured from being thrown from a scenic overlook. Brain surgery and other broken bones keep her hospitalized and in need of guarding until the Martini Club manages to put all the pieces together and find the person who wants her dead.

This was an engaging story told from multiple viewpoints. I liked the way the past and the present were woven together to make a thrilling plot.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for this arc.

Beautiful book. **chef’s kiss** Excellente!

This book is the second in the Martini Club series & now I am dying to read the first book. Tess Gerritsen did a phenomenal job with this book & I will recommend it for years to come. I was introduced to retired spy Maggie Bird and her ex-CIA book club, and their strategic role in the search for a missing teenage girl.

As the search for the missing teenage girl intensifies, divers in Maiden Pond discover human remains of someone who disappeared long ago. This revelation stirs up old ghosts, linking the present case to a decades-old missing person and even a 1972 tragedy. Gerritsen weaves a masterful, twist-filled thriller, packed with red herrings and shocking revelations. As Maggie and reluctant ally Sheriff Jo Thibodeau dig deeper, past and present collide in a gripping, satisfying mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley & Unabridged for the ARC!

The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen is the second book in the Martini Club series. I would advise reading the first book, The Spy Coast, before reading this one.

Synopsis:
When former spy Maggie Bird retired to the seaside hamlet of Purity, Maine, she settled in for a quiet life with breathtaking views. But enemies from her past soon threatened to destroy everything.

Maggie survived, thanks to her wits and the collective intelligence of the Martini Club, the circle of ex-CIA friends in her cocktail-sipping book club. Their handiwork, however, caught the attention of young police chief Jo Thibodeau. Now Jo and her neighborhood ex-spies have an uneasy alliance.

After a teenager vanishes—and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect—she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. But the girl’s wealthy family pushes for an arrest. And when authorities discover a long-dead corpse in a nearby pond, the case becomes doubly complicated, with unthinkable ties to long-buried secrets.

As Jo grapples with two unexplained mysteries, the Martini Club races to uncover the truth behind shadowy secrets…before more lives are lost.

This novel was medium-paced, but kept me highly engaged. I love the Martini Club characters and the delight they show in using their spy skills in their golden years to keep their community safe in Purity, Maine. I look forward to the next book in this highly delightful series!

Hillary Huber did an excellent job as the narrator in this audiobook. Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advanced digital copy of the audiobook.

Audiobook/Book Review 🔪👙🍸

Thank you so much Thomas & Mercer + Brillance Publishing for the gifted copy and ALC!

The Summer Guests
by Tess Gerritsen
Narrated by Hillary Huber

About the book 👇🏽

When former spy Maggie Bird retired to the seaside hamlet of Purity, Maine, she settled in for a quiet life with breathtaking views. But enemies from her past soon threatened to destroy everything.

Maggie survived, thanks to her wits and the collective intelligence of the Martini Club, the circle of ex-CIA friends in her cocktail-sipping book club. Their handiwork, however, caught the attention of young police chief Jo Thibodeau. Now Jo and her neighborhood ex-spies have an uneasy alliance.

After a teenager vanishes—and Maggie’s neighbor becomes the prime suspect—she joins the investigation, determined to prove her friend’s innocence. But the girl’s wealthy family pushes for an arrest. And when authorities discover a long-dead corpse in a nearby pond, the case becomes doubly complicated, with unthinkable ties to long-buried secrets.

🍸 My thoughts:

I seriously LOVE this group of capable sleuths! I’ll admit I haven’t read the first book in the series and although I didn’t feel lost, I feel like I would have gotten to know the gang better. So I am just going to say you should read the first book. I definitely read/listened to this book rather quickly and I am not even mad about it! I love a good summer thriller and this was good! Both the audiobook and the physical book were equally enjoyable and would recommend to others! I definitely plan on continuing The Martini Club series. The Summer Guests is out now!

Happy reading 📖 🎧🔪👙🍸

3.5 stars. I like this series and the members of The Martini Club. This one compared to the first book in this series, didn't feel as strong and thrilling. The mystery was okay, but there really wasn't that many characters to make it interesting. I will continue to read this series because I love these characters. The narrators did a great job telling the story.

The Martini Club is back in action. When is summer guest to the town of Purity Maine goes missing, the now retired former CIA agents are determined to help with the investigation whether police chief Jo Thibodeau wants it or not. When the investigation leads to more questions than answers, Jo pulls no punches with her investigation. Skeltons from the past may be linked to the current mystery. An excellent faced paced, very well executed who done it.

4 stars

Thank you to Brilliance audio for the ALC. The narrator, Hillary Huber, was phenomenal. A very high quality production.

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 had a challenging time connecting with this story. I am going to relisten to the audiobook this weekend. This is the 2nd book in the Martini Series. I was drawn to this book because it is a mystery book. I devour mystery books in one day. I also appreciated that the main characters are in their 70s; I think we need more representation for our aging population. And, the next reason I was drawn to this book because the women are all former CIA operatives who now help their local sheriff when the need arises. The dialogue is good, and the characters are well-rounded. I will update my review after I listen the 2nd time.

This was my first Tess Gerritsen and I was hooked from the beginning! I was not expecting the plot to go the way it did and I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the small town feel and the community. Thank you for the chance to listen early!

Tess Gerritsen, known for her captivating blend of humor and mystery, returns following The Spy Coast with the second installment of The Martini Club series, THE SUMMER GUESTS. This chilling whodunit mystery is infused with a delightful dose of humor and suspense.

The Martini Club, a witty and fun cast, embarks on a search for a missing teen with the local authorities, then another older body is found with a shocking connection to their pasts. Their escapades are thrilling and filled with moments of light-hearted humor, keeping the readers entertained, amused, and engaged.

From birds and books to martinis and murder!

About...

Picking up from Book #1, this exhilarating series, The Martini Club, is a character-driven narrative featuring five fascinating retired CIA agents settling into Purity, Maine, without anyone knowing their past. They want to blend in like their ordinary neighbors (known as the Martini Club) who meet for book club, martinis, great food, gossip, and much more.

Set in Maine, a destination for upscale summer visitors leads to friction between the locals and the demanding outsiders. The haves and the have-nots.

Maggie, who purchased a farm, and her four friends, all retired from the CIA, live nearby, known as the Martini Club. (Maggie, Ingrid, Lloyd, Ben, and Declan).

When the teenage daughter of a wealthy summer family goes missing, and Maggie's neighbor is implicated, Maggie and her four friends join the search for the girl. Maggie has a farm and her neighbors are Luther and his granddaughter, Callie.

The teen missing is Zoe Conover, granddaughter of summer guests and owners of Moonview, one of the largest cottages on Maiden Pond. The search for Zoe leads the police and our Martini Club into entirely unexpected areas, keeping you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful storytelling.

As we found in the last book, there are clashes with the police chief, Jo Thibodeau, who sees the Martini Club always a step ahead. The over-eager acting police chief suspects there is more to this group of friends than meets the eye.

They think the girl may have drowned, so they drag the pond near the family home but discover a woman's skeleton from the past. They then try to find the identity of the woman and any motive.

As Jo grapples with two unexplained mysteries, the Martini Club races to uncover the truth behind shadowy secrets that are more sinister than they initially appear…before more lives are lost. (Are they connected)?

My thoughts...

Highly entertaining! Expect humor, thrills, twists, secrets, mystery, suspense, action, and murder. From a group of five ex-spies retired in Maine—birdwatching, books, good food, conversation, martinis, and more from this witty cast of characters. The Martini Club #3 is eagerly awaited, promising more lively adventures. A cracker of a series that leaves the readers excited and eager for the next installment!

I loved THE SUMMER GUESTS even more than The Spy Coast (both five stars) and enjoyed catching up with the Martini Club, the neighbors, and Jo. It's always a pleasure to reconnect with these characters and see how their lives unfold, making the readers feel connected and invested in the story.

The series is a multi-layered ongoing conflict between the town, its visitors, the older and the younger residents, and guests. It is particularly fun to watch Jo and the ex-spies and their back and forth, and in this installment she seems to be drawn slowly into their circle of trust. But of course, the Martini Club can never fully trust her.

The narrative alternates between the POV of Susan, Jo, and Maggie, and there is more going on with this family, may know (from past to present).

From red herrings, suspicions, suspense, and long-buried secrets —with conflicts between the locals and the privileged summer people, there is plenty of mystery and intrigue.

I love The Martini Club and am drawn to characters in this 70's age range (my age range), as they/we may be old but still have a lot of life left and full of wisdom. I enjoy their fun evenings together and how they solve crimes with good food, bird watching, lively conversation, and cocktails (martinis). I would love to join in.

This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery with a dose of humor. I look forward to Martini Club #3, THE SHADOW FRIENDS (Nov 17, 2026). I hope this series continues with new adventures and mysteries for the group to solve.

Audiobook...

I enjoyed reading the book and listening to the audiobook, narrated by my favorite, Hillary Huber! Highly entertaining, she delivers a rock-star superb performance for all the voices, making the characters come alive and keeping you glued to your iPhone with a perfect mix of wit, suspense, and mystery for an engaging performance and listening experience. I loved it. I highly recommend the audiobook! Hillary also narrates Martini Club #1, The Spy Coast— I recommend listening to #1 before #2 to get the characters' background.

Recs...

THE SUMMER GUESTS is for fans of Tess Gerritsen and the Martini Club series. Also, for fans of Mark de Castrique's Secret Lives series.

Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for a gifted, advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Day: March 18, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +
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