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.

Tess Gerritsen, The Spy Coast, Thomas & Mercer, November 2023.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

I am so pleased to have returned to reading Tess Gerritsen’s work after having neglected to do so for a while. This novel was an excellent move back to enjoying her work, and I look forward to reading and rereading her Rizzoli and Isles series. The Spy Coast is different but retains Gerritsen’s ability to draw characters whose stories are tempting to follow, a good plot and a satisfactory resolution.

The first chapter introduces Diana whose life has changed from being ‘the golden girl’ to one who dyes her blonde to ‘dead-mouse brown’ to escape a threat. With such a description how can we not want to know more! Diana is on the run, but should she evoke sympathy? In chapter 2 Maggie is introduced. Rather than living in the salubrious apartment in Paris in which Diana, when introduced resided, Maggie is in a field contemplating blood, feathers and revenge for her killed chickens. Is it she with whom one should sympathise?

Maggie is not alone in her love for her snowy lifestyle, farming in a small town, Purity, Maine. Her neighbours and friends are introduced along with a young police officer who has just become acting Chief of Police upon the death of her superior officer. Jo also becomes a character with whom it is easy to find links, although here too, there are questions. Is her questioning of Maggie over a body found in her driveway legitimate or intrusive? The body is that of a woman who surreptitiously visited Maggie with a threat. Like Diana, Maggie becomes a threatened runaway. Her backstory, of a love affair begun in Bangkok, follows her every move.

Because this is a spy story the questions mount, and answers introduce more complexities. Like Maggie and Diana, who have learned never to trust, the need to question seemingly ‘good’ characters becomes part of the reading of the novel. Gerritsen makes an excellent effort to draw the reader into the complex world of spy and counter spy, plots, death threats and their execution, escape and questions about whether such evasion of possible death will last.

This is a good read as the loneliness of having been caught up in a world where being on the constant look out for threats or duplicity is an essential part of the writing, even when all seems to be well. At the same time as recognising the importance of the characters’ feelings of loss and lifelong suspicion of others, the novel draws upon optimism in its resolution. Such optimism might be misplaced, but the characters accept their lives as they have progressed, and their friendship groups remains intact. Here they are advantaged by their ageing – Maggie and her friends, and Diana are in their sixties and seventies. Their experience benefits them, despite the occasional physical limitation, ensuring that age is seen as a positive rather than a negative in their understanding of how to deal with the crises with which they are confronted. It does not necessarily save them, and several gruesome deaths take place. The life of a spy is not easy, in its prime or retirement, as this novel cleverly evokes though both sympathetic and unsympathetic characters in a well-developed plot.

I am a big fan of this author's Rizzoli & Isles series, and have also read and enjoyed a couple of stand alones. So I was quite excited to hear that she was beginning a new series. Even more so when I got my grubby wee mitts on a copy!
We start with Maggie, a former spy who has retired to the seaside village of Purity, Maine. She spends her days quietly on her chicken farm, trying to put her past behind her. Until one day when she receives a strange visitor, asking for help. She turns them away but is still intrigued enough to bring the topic to "book club" which is anything but about books. You see, she is not the only retired spook to be living in Maine. There are a bunch of them, all old friends, all trying to put their pasts behind them. Meeting as the "Martini Club". But they are forced to act, and quick, when Maggie's visitor turns up dead; her body being dumped on Maggie's drive. Enter Purity police chief Jo Thibodeau to investigate...
And so begins a cracking story with Maggie at the centre as she and the Martini Club try and work out what is going on and, more importantly, how to keep Maggie safe. All the time also trying to keep under the radar of the cops.
Ok so there is a big trend for authors to focus on oldies as heroes. And part of me was worried that it was just bandwaggoning. But I was swiftly put in my place as it gripped me right from the off and I was soon sucked into their world. I guess the difference is that these characters were the real deal once. Actually they still are, mentally, if not always physically. And I soon forgot their ages as that really wasn't the focus. I also loved the growing relationship they started to have with Jo, although I might like to see her given a bigger role in future books. Maybe a spin off of her own, she has a lot more to give than just being a bit-part player.
All in all, a good solid opener which left me satisfied and excited to see what the author has in store for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for offerring this book in exchange my honest review.

The Spy Coast is a fast-paced thriller filled with suspense and action. One of the strongest aspects of this book is the well-developed characters. Maggie Bird is smart, resourceful, and not afraid to take risks. Gerritsen does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the novel. The plot is full of twists and turns, and just when you think you have everything figured out, another shocking revelation is thrown into the mix. The action scenes are well-written and keep you on the edge of your seat. In conclusion, it is an entertaining and gripping read that will keep you engaged from start to finish. With its well-developed characters, fast-paced plot, and unexpected twists, it is a must-read for fans of thrillers.

3.5~4★
“It’s exactly the sort of evening that we retired folks are believed to indulge in. I doubt the police will ask what we are all retired from, because when you are over the hill, what you did in your previous life is of little interest to most people.”

The sort of evening Maggie is referring to is a gathering of five friends around a potluck dinner, bottles of wine, and the apparent discussion of a book. Acting Chief of Police Jo Thibodeau suspects otherwise, but she can’t prove it or even put her finger on what’s wrong – yet.

I didn’t know until I read the author’s note at the end that this story was inspired by the author’s own neighbourhood in Maine. Had I known that beforehand, I think I’d have enjoyed the story more. Because I didn’t, I thought perhaps she was hoping to attract fans of The Thursday Murder Club, whose main character is a retired spook.

But back to the story. Maggie has been living on her small farm in Maine for a couple of years and has become friends with her neighbour and his teenaged granddaughter. Maggie and Callie bond over their mutual interest in chickens and sell their eggs together at the markets.

Out of the blue, a woman comes to Maggie’s house with a call to action that Maggie has trouble ignoring. She goes to her friends’ house for their ‘book club’ meeting, which is really just a gossip session of old spooks as they enjoy 6 o’clock martinis followed by a potluck dinner.

“When I pull up in front of Lloyd and Ingrid’s handsome white colonial, I see that Ben Diamond’s black Subaru is parked across the street and Declan’s blue Volvo is down near the corner, which tells me the gang’s all here.
. . .
Ben Diamond was the first to plant a flag here, nine years ago.
. . .
A few years later he recruited Ingrid and Lloyd, and then Declan, to retire here as well. I have no doubt there are others like us quietly living out their retirements throughout Maine, a state that’s long been used by the Agency as a convenient location for safe houses.”

The chapters move between now and at various points in the past, with the main focus on Maggie, who narrates her story in the first person, the only character to do so. But also featured is Jo Thibodeau and her local background, growing up and staying in the town where the Thibodeaus have lived for 250+ years.

Diana is a former spy with whom Maggie reluctantly worked years ago but who has dropped out of sight. Now, she must be found, and Maggie is the one tasked to do it.

This is not a cosy, and it’s not all fun and games with heart-warming people. Maggie gets the most comprehensive treatment, and is someone I would recognise if I met her. The same for Jo, I think. The others are a bit more peripheral, but they do flesh out the story – both the past and present.

It was easy to see how Maggie was drawn into the life and also why she was anxious some years earlier to leave it. But she (and we) were never entirely sure about some of her nearest and dearest, so when she’s left alone in Maine now, it’s not unexpected.

Getting dragged kicking and screaming out of retirement was certainly a surprise to her, though, although Declan put it well.

“ ‘First they tell us we’ve gotten too old for the business. Then they come to us, looking for help when they realize they don’t know what they’re doing. Let them learn on the job, the way we did.’ He taps his head. ‘It’s still all there. Every little detail, if they’d just bother to ask us.’”

But Maggie’s realistic. “ ‘Young people move in, and we are expendable. So we putter along in our quiet little village … ’”

And that’s been true – until now. The action ramps up in the present day and the book turns into a deadly thriller. There’s a murder at Maggie’s farm, and Jo, the Acting Chief of Police, finds Maggie with her friends at their book club dinner party.

Nobody seems shocked to hear of a murder, which raises Jo’s suspicions – that, and they claim this to be a meeting of The Martini Club, the name that springs to Maggie’s mind when Jo asks. The others nod.

And from there, for us, it’s a long way down the rabbit hole that is Maggie’s past and then back up to her future, in action again.

“I step over the body and keep moving. It’s the story of my life. Leave the bodies behind and move on.”

She had hoped to leave that life behind, but I wonder if we'll see more of Maggie and The Martini Club.

It’s an entertaining premise with believable characters, although I can’t say I developed any particular affection for anyone – except maybe Jo Thibodeau, who was up against some seriously experienced professionals, but seemed to understand there were a lot of secrets among them. There were times that I was a bit impatient for the story to get to the point, but overall, it’s a good read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the preview copy of #TheSpyCoast for review.

I will not go into detail about what this novel is about because I think the synopsis does a great job of it. But what I will say is The Spy Coast is fantastic!

It is a spy mystery/thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat at times, squeeze your heart with love and emotion, make you gasp, and have you rooting for these wonderful characters (Maggie, Ben, Ingrid, Lloyd, and Declan) who you will want at your next dinner party. We also have the young, small town police chief, Jo Thibodeau, who is perplexed as to why her busy in the summer/sleepy in the winter tourist town In Maine, is suddenly experiencing major serious crime.

I enjoyed how the story has the home base of a quaint Maine town, but will take you around the world to various interesting locales. The characters are intriguing, older, wiser, have experience, and are memorable. The story is a glimpse into a fascinating world. The Spy Coast is the first in a series, and I will absolutely be picking up the next one.

A really good book and done in a way that reminded me of some of the old spy books from the 70s. Here you have Maggie Byrd living in Maine and just going on with her day-to-day business when a woman shows up asking her questions. The next day that same woman he dead on her driveway. The cast of characters is really what keeps this story going and for the female sheriff, I feel for her because though she begins to have a clue she is still lost with the information these old spies won’t give up. A really good book that will keep you hooked from the first page until the last. Very much worth the read.

The Spy Coast is an engaging novel about Maggie Bird, a retired CIA agent who lives in a small town of Maine. She's living the quiet life of a chicken farmer, when enemies from her past emerge and threaten her home and neighbors.

Although Maggie is 60 years old and no longer at a physical peak, her wits and skill are sharp. Maggie has to draw on all her resources to look back into her past and figure out who wants her dead.

It was quick, witty, and fun, reminding me of the Finlay Donovan series for the senior set. I also loved the representations of friendship and the diversity of the characters.

This was my first read of 2024 and I rate it 5 stars. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling spy novel/whodunit with a twist.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this book for review.

Tess Gerritsen's "The Spy Coast" is a gripping espionage thriller that propels the reader into a world of intrigue, betrayal, and heart-stopping action. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War, the novel follows the story of a daring female spy who must navigate treacherous alliances and deadly adversaries to uncover a sinister plot that could alter the course of history. Gerritsen's masterful storytelling, coupled with her meticulous attention to historical detail, creates a riveting narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.
The author's vivid descriptions transport the reader to the clandestine world of espionage, immersing them in a web of secrecy and danger. The protagonist's complexities and inner struggles add depth to the narrative, making her a compelling and relatable character. Gerritsen's skillful blend of suspense and historical context makes "The Spy Coast" an exhilarating read that will captivate fans of both espionage fiction and historical thrillers.
I highly recommend this book.

An entertaining read about a former CIA agent Maggie trying to forget her past by retiring to a small community in Purity ,Maine. Her past catches up with her and with some former colleagues who also live in Purity an old assignment is perhaps concluded . The local police chief Jo Thibodeau is a strong character and Maggie along with her senior friends provide a good read. The sense of belonging to a small community with others respecting your privacy is a theme in this book as well as your past can come back to haunt you and the people you care for.

This is a very good mystery/thriller!! A lot of twists and turns and characters that are very well developed and enjoyable.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC.

This is the first novel in Tess Gerritsen’s new series, the Martini Club. It is also, somehow, the first of Gerritsen’s novels that I’ve ever read — not entirely sure how this happened, given that the Rizzoli & Isles series looks like it should definitely appeal. (I also enjoyed the first season of the TV adaptation). Anyway, I digress: The Spy Coast is a really good start to a series, which I really enjoyed, and it will definitely not be my last Gerritsen read.

This first novel focuses on former spy Maggie Bird, and a case from her past that comes back to upend her quiet, anonymous retirement in a sleepy Maine town. Bird has been living the quiet life of a chicken hobby-farmer, fending off hungry foxes, (warily) getting to know her neighbours, and generally keeping to herself. One day, though, she’s confronted by a newcomer with clear connections to Maggie’s former employer: the CIA. Later, this newcomer’s body is discovered displayed in Maggie’s driveway, and she knows her life won’t be quiet until she gets to the bottom of what’s happening.

The Spy Coast alternates between the past and the present, gradually parcelling out information and context to paint a bigger picture and understanding of the events that have informed the person Maggie she is today. (It’s a similar approach to that taken by Charles Cumming, in his Box 88 series — which I also very much recommend.) In particular, a chance encounter on a mission in Bangkok leads Maggie down an unexpected path — at first, exciting, then both settling and unsettling, and finally devastating. Along the way, we learn of some of her early introductions to her fellow retirees in Purity, Maine. Along the way, we see Bird’s evolution as an operative for the CIA, and get a sense of her focus and dedication, and what could cause her to question her life choices.

The plot moves swiftly, and the momentum never flags. There are a few nicely-placed red herrings and twists, which kept me guessing until shortly before the Big Reveal towards the end. I was always eager to get back to reading, and irked by any interruption when I was doing so. Gerritsen’s prose is excellent, and her characterization is superb — each of the characters feels realistic and three-dimensional. There’s plenty of tradecraft, but Gerritsen doesn’t let it get in the way of the story, and instead weaves these details expertly into the narrative. All of this makes for an engaging and gripping read.

Definitely recommended for all fans of espionage and thriller fiction, I can’t wait to read the next book. I really enjoyed The Spy Coast.

(According to Amazon, The Summer Guests is due out in March 2025 — which is ages away!)

I knew from the first chapter that I was going to thoroughly enjoy this book. Gerritsen’s writing style is so engaging! The picture she paints with her writing allows for really excellent character development and this book really immersed me in the characters’ background and thought process. You get a sense that these characters are completely real and exist outside the pages of the book which is instrumental in any good story: The twist and turns of this one kept the pages turning. I cannot wait for another story in this series.

Such a different book from this authors previous books...and I really enjoyed it. At the beginning I was a little worried it was going to be a little like The Thursday Murder Club books but that couldn't be further from the truth. Maggie and her friends get caught up in something they aren't prepared for. I like the way the book moves between now and Maggie's past to allow the reader to try and piece things together. Very enjoyable read.

Interesting read!!
I do enjoy Tess Gerritsen and did enjoy this one as well.....
A little winded in areas but soon picked up and found myself not wanting to put it down.
Enjoyed the storyline.

An excellent foundational title for Tess Gerritsen's newest series. The Martini Club. Gerritsen has skillfully made the transition to writing spy thrillers. As always, the characters are expertly crafted. It will be interesting to see if she continues with Maggie Bird as the lead protagonist. It was wonderful to have a woman "of a certain age" featured. Looking forward to what comes next in the series.

The Rizzoli and & Isles series is one of my favorites. I was excited to read a new series from the same author. The Spy Coast is the first book The Martini Club series. I loved all the characters in this spy thriller. These are not your typical Jason Bourne all-action, always on the go spies. These are your retired, 60ish, living on a farm, needs a nap type of spies. Nonetheless, they are strong, brave and intelligent. It is immensely thrilling and suspenseful, flashing back and forth from the present to the days preceding the fateful mission. I hope this becomes a movie or a tv series. Can't wait to read the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Tess Gerritsen for an ARC of "The Spy Coast".

4.5 very strong stars! The Spy Coast was the first book that I had ever read by Tess Gerristen and boy was it a good one! It was the first book in a new series titled The Martini Club. Tess Gerritsen proved to me that she should be considered as a masterful and talented storyteller. She was able to incorporate just the right amount of suspense and mystery into her writing of The Spy Coast. It was fast paced and I enjoyed her character development throughout the book.

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?

The chapters in The Spy Coast alternated between Maggie’s past and present day life. It kept me at the edge of my seat. I am so glad that this is going to be a series and that there is going to be another book. Hopefully, most of the characters will return in the second book. In her author’s note, Tess Gerritsen explained where she got the inspiration to write this book. I found that very interesting. Overall, I really enjoyed reading The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for allowing me to read The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! At first it felt like Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, but it soon became edgier, and a little darker. More like the Bruce Willis movie Red. I think the author did a great job of giving each character time develop, and she cast enough attention on each antagonist to make you suspect them in turn. I’ve been a longtime reader of Gerriten’s and I look forward to more books in this new series.

This was an interesting book, the first in a series, I have read many books by this author, mainly from the Rizzoli and Isles series, this one is, as the title suggests, about a spy (one or more). Maggie Bird, 60, lives a quiet life on a rural Maine farm, she raises chickens and makes a modest income by selling the eggs they produce. She is friends with her neighbor and his granddaughter. Life is good, that is until she gets a visit from a woman asking if she remembers Diana, Maggie does, but doesn't let on. Not long after, this woman is dumped dead on Maggie's driveway, and not long after that someone takes a few shots at her, trying to scare her or silence her. Maggie is a former CIA agent, she last did a case some 16 years ago, Diana was the lead on that case. Several other former CIA agents live in a small town not far from Maggie, they all get together to discuss what they should do with the events from the past coming back to life. The story flashes back to the events from 16 years ago and what had happened. All very interesting I found and I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Thomas and Mercer for the ARC.