The Spy Coast

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.

“Expect mystery, action, and bloodshed in this exciting thriller launched straight from the peaceful shores of Maine.” — Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

“Compelling reading throughout with astute characterizations… readers of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club mysteries will love this.” — Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

"Powerful, resonant, absorbing, freighted with menace and suspense . . . Irresistible and highly recommended!” — Lee Child, #1 internationally bestselling author of the Jack Reacher Series

“A positively devourable and un-put-downable start to what promises to be an excellent series.” — Associated Press

THE SPY COAST

Book Group Discussion Questions

Maggie’s flashbacks to her prior career reveal the challenges of working as an undercover agent. Would you make a good spy? Why or why not?

Spies often appear in popular fiction (e.g. James Bond and Jason Bourne) . How does Maggie Bird differ from the spies in other books you’ve read?

The five members of The Martini Club each have their own special talents. What is YOUR secret superpower?

Maggie observes that “gray hair is the best disguise,” because older people are often unseen. If you too are older, do you have any personal experiences where you felt unseen? Or underestimated?

Did you believe the romance between Danny and Maggie was real? And when Danny’s fate was revealed, how did you react?

Maggie has chosen to run away from the past and create a new life for herself. If you could create a new life, unencumbered, where would you go and what would you do instead?

The Martini Club has a monthly book group, which instead serves as an excuse to dine, drink, and gossip. How does that compare with your own book group?

Do you foresee Jo Thibodeau eventually becoming a trusted ally to Maggie’s group? Or do you think there’ll always be tension between them?

Do YOU have any friends/family who worked in the intelligence field? Do they talk about it? (Or do you just suspect they had such jobs?)