#Review - The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen #Thriller #Espionage

Series: The Martini Club # 1
Format: Kindle, 341 pages
Release Date: November 1, 2023
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Source: Amazon
Genre: Espionage / Thriller

A retired CIA operative in small-town Maine tackles the ghosts of her past in this fresh take on the spy thriller from New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen.

Former spy Maggie Bird came to the seaside village of Purity, Maine, eager to put the past behind her after a mission went tragically wrong. These days, she’s living quietly on her chicken farm, still wary of blowback from the events that forced her early retirement.

But when a body turns up in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives.

Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information—and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn.

As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

The Spy Coast, by Tess Gerritsen, is the first installment in the authors The Martini Club series. Key Characters: Maggie Bird, and Acting Police Chief, Jo Thibodeau. It has been 16 years since Maggie retired from the CIA and made her home in Purity, Maine which is pretty isolated from the rest of the country. She purchased Blackberry Farm from the previous owner, and is perfectly fine visiting with her friends, her neighbor Luther Yount, and his granddaughter Callie, while running off annoying foxes who target her chickens. 

Maggie isn't aware of it yet, but her past, as well as a former colleague named Diana Ward, who she worked with in Operation Cyrano in Malta, is about to rear its ugly head. Diana, who was living a comfortable life in Paris, escaped a bad ending from two men who wanted her dead. Someone, it appears, has leaked her name. Diana made plenty of enemies, and those enemies haven't forgotten what happened 16 years ago while she and Maggie were chasing a Russian spy known as Cyrano. 

Back in Purity, Maggie gets a visit from a woman named Bianca Miskova who says Maggie is missing and that there has been a breach of the Agency records. The only file accessed was Operation Cyrano which took place 16 years ago in Malta. But when Bianca turns up dead in Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a message from former foes who haven’t forgotten her. Who is Bianca really? CIA? SVR? Why is she searching for Diana? Who killed her and why? What was Operation Cyrano, and why is the agency revisiting it?

Maggie turns to her local circle of old friends—all retirees from the CIA—to help uncover the truth about who is trying to kill her, and why. This “Martini Club” of former spies (Lloyd and Ingrid Slocum, Ben Diamond, & Declan Rose) may be retired, but they still have a few useful skills that they’re eager to use again, if only to spice up their rather sedate new lives. Complicating their efforts is Purity’s acting police chief, Jo Thibodeau. 

More accustomed to dealing with rowdy tourists than homicide, Jo is puzzled by Maggie’s reluctance to share information and by her odd circle of friends, who seem to be a step ahead of her at every turn. As Jo’s investigation collides with the Martini Club’s maneuvers, Callie is kidnapped and a cryptic message "a life for a life" is left for Maggie. Maggie’s hunt for answers will force her to revisit a clandestine career that spanned the globe, from Bangkok to Istanbul, from London to Malta. The ghosts of her past have returned, but with the help of her friends—and the reluctant Jo Thibodeau—Maggie might just be able to save the life she’s built.

*Thoughts* This, apparently, is the authors first foray into Espionage thrillers and yes, she did a good job. She mentions that Maine is a place where retired spies go to retire. Not sure if that was such a good idea, knowing the world we live in today. This story alternate's between the present, and 16 years ago culminating in a major loss for Maggie, and an end to a promising career. I honestly have nothing good to say about Diana. Jo is in a curious position now that she knows who the Martini Club really is, and what they are capable of. Also, could it be possible that Maggie has been blinded by what happened 16 years ago to see what is right in front of her in the form of romance? We shall see. 

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