Great to see Tess Gerritsen back on form and with a new series to boot! I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment and great to see older characters portrayed in such a fearless and feisty manner. The setting moved from Maine to Bangkok to Italy and beyond which was captivating, as was the movement between times and the stories of different characters. In the end the villain was a little easy to guess at but all in all an adventurous page turner. Thank you to netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of The Spy Coast, the first novel to feature The Martini Club, a group of five former CIA agents living in the small town of Purity, Maine.

Maggie Bird, 60, is retired and living a quiet life on Blackberry Farm raising chickens. She knows that her past has come back when the unidentified body of a young woman is found in her driveway. Her friends rally round to help her protect her life in Purity.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Spy Coast, which is a tense thriller with the odd dash of humour, like naming the town Purity when five of its inhabitants have no connection to the concept.

The novel is mostly told from Maggie’s point of view with a few contributions from Acting Police Chief Jo Thibodeau and another former agent. Given the fact that someone is targeting Maggie the timeline switches between her present day situation and the old case that led to her retirement and her current woes. It is an interesting juxtaposition of the old and new Maggie.

The current timeline has plenty of action and a few twists, but the main event is the story of what went on 16-18 years ago. In the nature of all spy novels there is a lack of trust, betrayal, danger and some covert double crossing, not all of which is apparent at the time. I found it tense and gripping to the extent that I had to put it down frequently for tension busting breathers. It is a sign of good writing that this reader got so caught up in Maggie’s situation that I needed a break. The novel flows seamlessly between past and present and feels natural in the progression of reveals and actions.

I like the concept of older people with a wealth of experience being the protagonists. Obviously the author is not the first as it’s having a moment with publishers, but she puts her own stamp on it, going for action rather than straight humour. Maggie is a well drawn character with both strengths and regrets and more money than her history would suggest. These are not struggling pensioners, like many of us.

The Spy Coast is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Such a fun read, lots of twist to the story.
Tess Gerritsen introduces her fans to ‘The Martini Club’ where 5 retired CIA agents are living in Purity,Maine. They are living quietly, they meet regularly for book club, food and martinis, no one is aware of their past
Maggie Bird is 6O, has grey hair and has settled in Purity on a farm with her chickens, however after 16 years the past comes calling at Maggie’s door and a woman is dead in her driveway. Maggie heads to her friends for advice.
Acting sheriff Jo Thibodeau suspects that this group of retirees know more about the dead woman than they are saying.
The exciting story, which has humour, suspense, mystery and lots of action, is told between past and present, of Maggie’s double life as a CIA agent, which took her to many parts of the world, and a wife to her husband Danny who is a doctor
I loved all the Martini club characters, Maggie, Lloyd, Ingrid, Declan and Ben, retired but with lots of experience to help investigate.
This is a five star read and I will be looking forward to book 2 with The Martini Club.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. A top read for 2023

I’m so excited about this new series from Tess Gerritsen, it’s always the best feeling when you know that you’re going to enjoy every minute of a new adventure.
Maggie is in her 60s and retired, she’s settled into a quiet life in a quiet town and although it’s not the retirement she’s dreamt of, she’s content with her chickens. Until one day the past catches up with her, and we realise there’s a lot more to Maggie than she’s let on.
A fun adventure, with some great twists and turns, I was hooked.

I'm not a massive fan of spy novels but I am a massive fan of Tess Gerritsen so I thought I'd give this ago. I still really enjoy her style of writing but this wasn't my favourite of hers. I enjoyed the present day Maggie storyline but found the past Maggie storyline not to my taste. The ending was very fast paced and real page turner though.

If you're into spy novels I think you'll enjoy this, but I don't think I'll read more of The Martini Club.

Thank you to the author, publishers Bantam and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

Retired CIA agent Maggie Bird has retired to an isolated Maine village. But her last case has returned to haunt her, putting her new life, and everyone in it, at risk.

This is the start of a new series from Tess Gerritsen about a group of ex-spies, now in their 60s and 70s, who rally around when one of the group is threatened by an old case. Shades of The Thursday Murder Club without the humour and with less developed characters.

This is very much the first novel in a series. Flipping back between memories of Maggie’s last case and the present day, and occasionally shifting perspective to the acting Chief of police who knows something fishy is going on. The result is it feels like 90% exposition, the set up which the author feels is necessary to launch the series, but which means this first story is not as engaging as it needs to be.

It’s a shame because I usually love Tess Gerritsen books. But, this just feels like it isn’t a fully developed concept. I also had real difficulties in suspending my disbelief that five former CIA analysts/field agents all chose to retire to the same Maine town. The why is explained in the story, but it’s not convincing.

At the moment I’m thinking this is a series I’ll avoid, although it may be that once it gets warmed up future books will be more engaging.

This is the first book in a new series called The Martini Club and it’s an absolutely joy of a read and I can’t wait for the next instalment as I’m sure this is going to be a big favourite of mine. The characters in this story are just so good and the read kept me gripped throughout and after being in a bit of a reading slump that was a wonderful feeling. The story is told by various characters and moves a fair old pace with a past and present timeline that gives the book a real edge and I was really sorry when I finished it as I grown to really love being in the world of the martini club. This was my first book by Tess Gerritsen and well wow what a fabulous writer she is she has the knack of drawing you into a story and keeping you glued to the pages with quite a number of surprises that I never saw coming.
So a 5 star read for me and as said I am eagerly waiting for the next to come and hope it won’t be too long , many thanks to the author I loved the book from beginning to end.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Spy Coast’ written by Tess Gerritsen in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Bianca Miskva comes to Maggie’s home at Blackberry Farm situated in a secluded area of Purity, Maine, to ask for her help and the next day the woman’s body is found dumped in Maggie’s driveway. Many years ago Maggie was a spy working for the CIA and travelled the world where she met Danny Gallagher who later became her husband, but now she’s in her sixties and someone is trying to kill her. With the help of her friends, former spies who call themselves the Martini Club, she goes looking for Diana Ward who she worked with and who’ll be able to tell Maggie why her life is now at risk sixteen years later.

‘The Spy Coast’ is a brilliant first novel in an involving new series ‘The Martini Club’ where the past catches up with Maggie and her band of elderly retired spies do what they’re best by finding out who wants her dead. The characters of Maggie, Ben, Declan, Ingrid and Lloyd are superb, as is Purity’s Chief Officer Jo Thibodeau who’s always one step behind as she tries to catch up with the former spooks. There’s not been one moment that I haven’t been either reading my Kindle or thinking about how the plot could work out, and with my fingers crossed hoping that Maggie will avoid the dangerous assassins who are intent on killing her and return home safely to Purity. I’ve been totally hooked from page one through the exciting drama, intrigue and unbelievable twists and turns, with the tension increasing the further I’ve got into the plot. I am so looking forward to reading the second book in this gripping new series.

Incredible debut spy mystery thriller from Tess Gerritsen. I absolutely loved it.

The characters in this story are remarkably flawless—elderly retired CIA agents aiming for a peaceful retirement, yet their experiences mean that despite their efforts to leave their past behind, they find themselves irresistibly drawn to any criminal activity they encounter, fuelled by an inherent curiosity and a protective instinct.

Age, in essence, is just a number; internally, we remain unchanged, albeit with a few inevitable aches and pains. The narrative is enthralling, offering a delightful and engaging reading experience..

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Maggie Byrd lives a quiet life as a chicken farmer in Maine but things change suddenly when a dead woman turns up in her driveway. She knows it is linked to her past and this begins the search for whomever is trying to kill her. Along the way we find out about her past life as a spy and eventually uncover where it all went wrong.

This was a different kind of story from Tess Gerritsen and I mostly liked it. I definitely loved the international locations and intrigue. I think this will be an interesting new series with Maggie and her other ex CIA neighbors and friends, hopefully with more flashbacks to the interesting places their work took them.

Tess Gerritsen's latest is the first in her new series, set in remote small town Purity, in Maine. Retired 60 year old Maggie Bird is a woman unlikely to attract a second glance, a former spy, who brought Blackberry farm, after carefully vetting those living around her, finding a measure of peace as she settled down as a chicken farmer. She was drawn to the location by other retired colleagues and friends, Lloyd and Ingrid Slocum, Ben Diamond, and Declan Rose, forming a book group, the close knit friends are The Martini Club. However, Maggie's past comes to haunt her after a dead woman is dumped at her home, and soon after she is being shot at. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, we learn of her professional and personal life, in Bangkok, Istanbul, London, and in Malta.

In the present, 5 old spies, with 5 lifetimes worth of experience come together, bringing their specific tricks and expertise, more than ready to jump back into the fray to look after their own, running up against the tenacious but frustrated acting Police Chief, 32 year old Jo Thibodeau, who begins to wonder who exactly these people are. Spies are by the nature secretive beasts, but Maggie is going to have to disclose the details of her previous life if they are to work out who is after her now, including Operation Cyrano and its tragic consequences. An urgency is led to the proceedings which has Maggie hoping to find answers in Milan.

On finishing the novel, Gerritson reveals what inspired this compulsive new espionage series, featuring a wonderful character in Bird, and the supporting cast of former spies with their still razor sharp skills that they utilise, a reminder that they may getting older, but it would not do to underestimate any of them. This is a entertaining, enjoyable and engaging beginning to what promises to be a great series, a tense and suspenseful read that will likely appeal to fans of author and those who love the mystery genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

The first in a brilliant new series by Tess Gerritsen. Maggie Bird is a retired CIA operative living happily in Maine, enjoying the friendship of her fellow CIA retirees. When a body is dumped on her driveway, the past catches up with her and she finds herself in danger.
This is a fast-paced, gritty thriller with plenty of action. I loved the characters and the great story-line. Can't wait to read the next in the series.

Maggie Bird was enjoying her well-earned retirement until a stranger turned up looking for an ex-colleague. When the stranger later turns up dead on Maggie's drive, having obviously been tortured, Maggie realises you can never really retire from the CIA.

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen is a new series featuring a small group of retired ex-CIA agents who have all chosen to live in the town of Purity, Maine. Having worked in various exotic locations they've chosen somewhere quiet to live a simpler life. Things seem to be going to plan until an ex-colleague is targeted and goes on the run. This brings the CIA to Maggie's door, hoping that she'll have some insight.

The Spy Club is primarily Maggie's story. While "The Martini Club" also consists of Declan, Ben, Lloyd and Ingrid, all of whom have also retired from the CIA, the vast majority of the novel focuses on Maggie's background. Maggie thrives on the danger as she travels the world. It is only when personal relationships develop that she begins to question her job, particularly when she realises the danger those close to her are in. The life that Maggie lives as a spy isn't glamorous, there are no James Bond type settings, but the trips to various countries are appealing. There is a hint of danger in almost everything Maggie does though and some events have devastating consequences.

When one job in particular impacts on Maggie she decides to leave the CIA, this leads to her settling in Purity sixteen years later, hoping that she can lead a quiet life. Unfortunately, she soon learns that you can never really give up the job of being a spy, especially when ghosts of the past are trying to track you down. Aided by the other members of The Martini Club Maggie has to work out who is hunting her before anyone else gets hurt.

It is great to read a novel featuring strong, mature female leads, particularly when the work that they carry out is about intelligence and stealth rather than muscle. I didn't see the big reveal coming and the open-ended nature of the story leaves lots of possibilities for the direction future books can take. Hopefully, any future novels will give us more information about the backgrounds of the other members of The Martini Club.

Can’t Wait For The Next in The Martini Club Series 🤓

Told from a few different perspectives, the main being Maggie Bird now retired, wants a quiet life which is very different from when she was working, whose past is coming back to haunt her. Taking you back and forth from present day back to different times in her working life.

This new series took me a chapter or two to get into, then I did not want to put it down. I’ve always been a fan of this author and that hasn’t changed. Great additive reading, can’t wait for the next in the Martini Club.

I'm fascinated by the fact that, in book publishing, sometimes two books come out around the same time - books which, I assume, were written at similar times but in isolation - which share a great deal in common. I think, for example, of Elly Griffiths, who in 2019 must have settled down to write a book about a rag tag group of pensioners in the south of England banding together to solve a murder (The Postscript Murders) thinking she had hit one something unique. And then BAM in 2020 Richard Osman publishes his debut novel, about a rag tag groups of pensioners in the south of Eng... well, you get the idea.

Similarly, The Spy Coast starts with a similar premise to Deanna Raybourn's 2022 novel, Killers of a Certain Age - taking a group of retired spies and placing them in peril. However, while Raybourn largely played this for laughs (in a not dissimilar style to Osman, now I think about it), Gerritsen takes a more serious approach in ramping up the tension as former spy Maggie is forced to abandon her cosy, retired life on the Maine coast after an attempt at her life. Who wants her dead, and what might it have to do with the mission 16 years ago which precipitated her retirement?

The style will be familiar to those who have read and loved Gerritsen's Rizzoli & Isles series, and the narrative was propulsive and pacey (although at times in danger of losing some of this pace in the flashback scenes). I especially enjoyed the character of beleaguered police chief Jo Thibodeaux, who gradually wakes up to the realisation that her ingrained ageism has blinded her to the fact that the seemingly-sweet bunch of pensioners she is dealing with are not exactly what they seem. The Spy Coast is a welcome addition to the trend for thrillers which make people over the age of 60 the main focus, demonstrating how they might benefit from a lifetime from experience while younger detectives flounder.

Thursday Murder Club meets Homeland! I do love a Tess Gerritsen novel and The Spy Coast was no exception. Exotic locations, intriguing characters, assassinations, what’s not to love?! I’m already looking forward to the next Martini Club meeting and learning more about Maggie’s friends!

Thank you Netgalley, Random House and Tess Gerritsen for this ARC.

A solid tale of spies, lies and revenge.

"The Spy Coast" opens with a spy whose cover has just been blown. Then moves to the sleepy retirement town of Purity, Maine, where 60-year old Maggie Bird keeps a small chicken farm, and keeps to herself. But her quiet life is soon disrupted when a woman arrives at her home asking for help tracking down an old work colleague. It seems that Maggie's old life as a CIA agent is about to catch up with her, and when that same woman turns up dead on Maggie's driveway, she knows the quiet life is over.

Very quickly this tale of spies, lies, regrets and mistakes takes the reader into Maggie's past and to events which have brought her new life to a turning point. We learn how she was drawn into a life of subterfuge and deception, and how one particular operation led to tragedy. The story is told from the perspective of Maggie, both in the present and the past, and from that of a local Police Chief who knows there's more going on than a simple murder.

It also transpires that Purity, Maine is the go-to retirement destination for a number of former CIA agents, who, with Maggie, form the 'Martini Club". This could all be a bit twee, but actually Gerritsen makes a good job of fleshing them out just enough to avoid a Jessica Fletcher / Cabot Cove feel.

I haven't read a lot of Tess Gerritsen, but based on this book, I'm quite impressed. I was expecting a sort of Murder She Wrote / Miss Marple cosy tale, but in fact got a solid story of a life where it doesn't pay to form relationships or put down roots, where even friends aren't to be trusted, and how lying to people becomes second nature. Maggie was clearly a good agent, but had too much of a conscience to do what's needed of an intelligence operative. By the end of the book, we're fully invested in her fate.

It's impossible to read this book and not imagine certain actors in the film version - good fun, if a bit distracting. Anyone who watched the recent series "Gray" might see some parallels too. It's well-paced and the characters are sufficiently well-fleshed out for the reader to feel their pain. This is not a Le Carre or Len Deighton spy thriller - and it might not appeal to die-hard fans of the spy genre, but it's a solid tale and will appeal to those who enjoy a fast moving thriller.

I look forward to further adventures of the Martini Club.

The premise was interesting but the protagonist seemed too confident in the first instance to become essentially a ‘confidential informant’ - the timelines and odd friends in the middle of nowhere did not ring true for me.
I look forward to the next Rizzoli and Isles!

MC's over 40, small town setting, retired spies, local murders and a past coming back to haunt Maggie! What an intro to a fab new series from Ms Gerritsen!

Murder has come to Purity, Maine, where the most the new acting-sheriff Jo Thibodeau has had to worry about where domestics and idiot tourists. The murders seem to be linked to Maggie Bird, part recluse-part chicken farmer and her band of retirees. Little did Jo realise just what a past Maggie and co. had.

Operation Cyrano sure came back to bite Maggie! The retiree is going to have to get back into the spy saddle to find out who has disrupted her new, quiet life. The Martini club are along for the ride - using all that hard-won, clandestine experience for good for once.

JO, Maggie and the others are such intriguing characters. Jo is tough, no nonsense cop who loves her small town and never intends to leave. Maggie, former spy, is taken aback by the potential romantic interest in her. The plot is tightly crafted, and probable in real life! I loved zooming around the world and getting to see Maggie in her full covert-spy glory in flashbacks. Learning that there was more to her than being a company spy.

Whilst I managed to half figure out the "big bad", I still managed to be surprised along the way. Well worth a read and cannot wait to read more!

It’s been a while since I read a Tess Gerritsen novel so I was looking forward to “The Spy Coast”. A little different to previous novels I have read by this author but enjoyed it. This spy thriller features a retired CIA operative, Maggie Bird, who is now living a much quieter life in the seaside village of Purity, Maine. But her past is about to catch up with her when a body is dumped on her driveway to remind her former adversaries are still watching her.

Maggie Bird, the retired spy tis now a chicken farmer but her past is resurfacing and she is forced to face her dark past. The Martini Club is a group of retired CIA agents who are friends and are fascinating characters. Maggie’s calmness to the situation gives the the police chief Jo Thibodeau a reason to suspect that Maggie’s demeanour is not normal.

The novel is told from both Jo and Maggie’s point of view, with Jo investigating the murder as well as Maggie looking for answers from her days in the service.

As you would expect from an author such as Tess Gerritsen the novel is well written, excellently paced and full of interesting characters. The plot is well thought out and there are lots of twists and turns throughout with the story switching from past to present.

For me the strength of this novel was the characters which were well described and developed. A story of bonds, friendship and intrigue. I really enjoyed reading another Tess Gerritsen book after all this time.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.