This was a very enjoyable read, full of twists and turns. This is the start of a new series featuring ex spy Maggie Bird. Maggie has retired to a quiet part of Maine where she runs a farm . It is a tight community with a few residents who also happen to be ex spies . Then something happens to bring back the past and suddenly Maggie’s life is in danger and we delve into the past. We find out about Maggie’s last assignment that resulting in her retirement and the loss of her husband. What follows is a lot of action and shooting , lots of travelling to different locations like Bangkok and Milan. We also meet the local cop Jo who has her own story to tell and basically doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. I found it an enjoyable adventure read with good characters and will definitely read the next one .

I've been a longtime fan of Tess Gerritsen, and this is a wonderful new series and direction from her. Retired spies are such an interesting focus in fiction- they've lived unbelievable lives, and have certain skills and knowledge that sets them apart. Maggie and her group are excellent characters, and I thought Maggie's backstory was fascinating. Tightly paced, and while I think the author's fans will find this a great read, I think this is a wonderful book to win new readers with as well.

This was a really good book! I enjoyed how thrilling and exciting it was! I thought it was well rounded and well written.

this book was captavating and thrilling. run to go buy it, it wont disappoint. book club read for sure

Tess Gerritsen's "The Spy Coast" is a literary triumph, marrying a riveting storyline with the author's exceptional writing prowess. The narrative unfurls like a tightly wound espionage thriller, blending intricate plot twists with Gerritsen's trademark flair for character depth. The protagonist, navigating the shadowy world of spies, is a compelling force, and Gerritsen deftly crafts a web of suspense that keeps readers captivated until the last page. Gerritsen's writing is a sublime dance of eloquence and precision, elevating the espionage genre with her evocative prose. "The Spy Coast" is a spellbinding journey into secrecy, where every word resonates with brilliance and intrigue.
I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thriller.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity.

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer and Tess Gerritsen for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Spy Coast. It was a very entertaining, intriguing and unique story.

I loved Maggie, she was relatable, mysterious and smart.
The storyline was unlike anything I've read before, the writing was excellent and the characters had real heart and strength.
I've read and loved most of Tess Gerritsen's books and this is up there with her Rizzoli and Isles series.

I highly recommend and I look forward to seeing what Tess comes up with next.

4 Stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my first Tess Gerritsen book and it definitely won’t be my last! This is the first book in a series and it sets up the series perfectly. Much of this book is in the past recalling a case that has found Maggie again. I loved the characters (you forget they are retired the way they act!). I highly recommend this book if you love spy thrillers with a personal story attached. This is a book you will want to read before the next book so read it now!

Maggie is a retired CIA agent living in rural Maine when a young woman shows up looking for another agent. When the same young woman is dumped in front of her home and then Maggie becomes the target of a shooter on her property she's forced to face her past. Also living in the same town are other retired former agents and friends who help her solve this mystery. I loved all these "retired" agents who use intelligence and experience - I can't wait for the next installment.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

a retired town for spies who would have thought that was a thing

maggie bird has come to purity maine to finally settle down after years of wandering, she is security conscious and keeping a low profile but it doesnt help when a body of a woman is found on her driveway, murdered with two taps to the head

she is suddenly in the spotlight and when someone tries to kill her days later she knows that her past is fast catching up with her but who or why

oh man this book, where it leads and the whys it keeps you reading and guessing right to the end and its never disappointing, couldnt get enough of this book and the explanation from the author at the end wow just wow

‘It’s the perfect place to retire … until they find you’ - cover tag line.

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Spy Coast’ by Tess Gerritsen.

This is the first book in the Martini Club, a new series about a group of retired CIA operatives who have moved to the seaside village of Purity in Maine. They meet regularly under the pretext of a book group.

After years of active service Maggie Bird now lives quietly on her chicken farm. She had taken early retirement following a mission that went tragically wrong. She returns from a meeting of the Martini Club to find the police at her property. The body of a woman has been dumped on her driveway. Maggie is convinced that it’s a message from former foes.

She reaches out to her local circle of fellow CIA retirees to investigate. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. She is puzzled by the Martini Club, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

Aside from chapters set in the present day, other chapters return to earlier times in Maggie’s globe spanning clandestine career in order to discover why the ghosts of her past have returned.

I have been a great admirer of Tess Gerritsen’s Rizzoli and Isles series and so was very pleased that she was writing a new series with spies. This proved a strong start and established its key characters. As with all of her novels, the plot and pacing were good.

Overall, I enjoyed ‘The Spy Coast’ very much and look forward to future outings for the Martini Club.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

This is the most fun I've had reading a crime novel for ages! There was just something magical about this cast of characters - a group of former-CIA agents who have all retired to the town of Purity in Maine for a relaxing retirement. Obviously this doesn't go to plan and the gang have to put their heads together to solve a murder after a body is dumped on Maggie Bird's driveway. I really felt like this was the perfect mix of thriller and cosy crime - Operation Cyrano and the spy elements of the story were intense and kept my interest the whole way through, while at the same time, I got completely wrapped up in the relationships between the members of The Martini Club. Fingers crossed for a sequel!

I found this one a little far fetched, but I kept reading and enjoyed the characters. Many thanks for the advance copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Tess Gerritsen provided us with years of delight with her Rizzoli & Isles series, which was then brought to life in an absolutely addictive long-running tv series that is a personal favorite of mine, due to wonderful casting and Gerritsen's clever and talented writing.

Equally as enthralling is The Spy Coast, featuring the character Maggie Bird, who moved to the town of Purity to live a quiet life (luckily with a few of her fellow retired spies, as her past comes back to haunt her).

I was riveted to every word, Tess Gerritsen is one of the most entertaining writer we have, and I hope that The Spy Coast becomes another long-running series!

One of my favorite books of the year, Tess Gerritsen once again has created relatable characters with unique jobs, and this book should capture the hearts of those who enjoy mysteries, thrillers and spy novels.

Thanks to the author for decades of entertainment, with her captivating books and well+crafted characters.

This is a story you won't want to put down, and for me, it earned an easy 5 star rating.

What an absolute ride this book was. Maggie Bird lives the perfect retirement life with her chickens and her friends in a small town in rural Maine. When a woman comes to warn her about things in her past and then ends up dead in her driveway shortly after, she gets thrust back into her old lifestyle of being a spy for the CIA. In this thrilling book, we follow Maggie as she reflects into her past to help prevent future problems for her and the people in the community that she has learned to love.

I found this book to be such a great thriller. It was hard to put down, with lots of twists and turns, all building in suspense. This book would make a fantastic movie. I see that it is the number one in a series, and I am excited to get my hands on future books involving The Martini Club. I loved getting the multiple POVs, including Jo the town police chief, and can tell she is going to be featured more in the future which I am happy for. I also enjoyed the rest of the members of the Martini Club, hoping that we get more background on these characters in the future. Overall, this was a fast paced read that kept me on the edge of my seat and I highly recommend.

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

A fairly predictable romantic suspense novel but still good and kept my attention from beginning to end.

What a fun and unique twist on a spy novel. I was constantly entertained by both the plot and character development. I think those even not typically into spy novels would enjoy this! It felt like a hit TV show waiting to happen.

Maggie Bird was a sixty year old retired woman who had recently moved to Purity, Maine on the recommendation of a very old and dear friend. When Maggie first learned about Purity from her friend Declan Rose, Maggie had thought that she had finally found a place where she could live out the rest of her life. Maggie had been a CIA spy but everything changed for her after Operation Cyrano. Reluctantly, Maggie became involved in that operation but something went terribly wrong with it. Maggie did not hesitate to submit her resignation after that operation. That was the last operation Maggie ever worked on for the CIA. She was now the proud and content owner of Blackberry Farm. Maggie loved everything about her chicken farm and living in this quaint and quiet little town in Maine. She even participated in a book club whose members were also part of The Martini Club. All was good for Maggie until a dead woman was discovered on her driveway. Soon Maggie’s own life was threatened. Maggie had also became a target. Who wanted her dead and why? Operation Cyrano had been classified but the word was that it had been compromised and someone was seeking revenge. Will the members of The Martini Club be able to help Maggie figure out who was trying to kill her? Can they keep her safe?

I like the stories that talks about former spies and how their life can be changed in a moment when they are needed.
This is the start of a new series and I'm curious about the future stories as this one is full of promises and potential.
Well plotted, good characters, entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I highly recommend The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritson. The story moves along quickly and I liked the characters a lot. I hope to read more on this group of retired CIA. It moved along quickly and gave enough element of mystery you were not sure what was going to happen. It also gave an element of humor and caring.

The story is told from multiple POVs and each one is uniquely interesting. When Maggie hears someone is asking about her she knows trouble has found her. She's taken great care to not be found. So she must enlist help from her fellow retired friends to figure out who is after her because the next events show they want to kill her.

Great story and I look forward to more with this group!

Thank you, Tess Gettitsen, NetGalley and publishers Thomas & Mercer Seattle for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. I would buy this book for a friend. It's a very good read.

I have been a long time fan of Tess's Rizzoli and Isles so this was no brainer for me to request this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

Maggie, Declan, Ben, Lloyd, Ingrid have set up their homes in Purity, Maine. They have retired from being CIA Spies but Maggie is drawn back into that life by a stranger asking questions about a former colleague of hers then the stranger is found dead at the bottom of her driveway. Acting Chief of Police Jo Thibodeaux starts to investigate this murder but she is forced to hand it over to the Maine State Police. This story is told using different characters and over several time lines to great effect as it kept me wanting to carry on reading. The characters are well written and the locations described were well researched. Maggie is persuaded by her handler to go on a mission 16 years ago, which leads to fateful incidence. The plot is peppered with twists and turns and the story comes together with a surprising conclusion. I hope The Martini Club ex-Spies come back as I enjoyed reading their story.