The Summer Guests - (Martini Club) by Tess Gerritsen (Hardcover)

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."--Publisher description.

Book Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen comes a chilling follow-up to The Spy Coast, plunging the Martini Club into the search for a missing teen--with a startling connection to their own pasts.

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.

Review Quotes

A BookBub Best Mystery/Thriller of Spring 2025

"Expertly blends family drama with spy-thriller suspense, sending readers racing through the pages to find out what happens next." --The Washington Post

"Secrets and plot twists abound...A complex mix of fright and fun." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"As in the first book, Gerritsen paints Maggie and her crew with a fine brush, and strikes a satisfying tone that's neither too dour nor too twee. These sexagenarian spies are hitting their stride." --Publishers Weekly

"Fun and fascinating to watch Maggie and friends pivot from drinking martinis at their monthly book club to full-on use of their survival and investigative skills." --Booklist

"An excellent outing for the Martini Club." --Deadly Pleasures magazine

"There are consequences galore in The Summer Guests, Tess Gerritsen's excellent follow-up to The Spy Coast." --Christian Science Monitor

"Filled with suspense, intrigue and sharp storytelling, this tale follows former spy Maggie Bird, who is living a quiet life in Maine...until enemies from her past resurface." --Woman's World Book Club

"Gerritsen has hit pop culture gold with this series that's anything but cozy. And The Summer Guests is the perfect read for any season, as relentlessly entertaining as it is superbly structured." --Jon Land, BookTrib