In Tess Gerritsen’s second installment of her Martini Club series, the picturesque shores of Maiden Pond become a sinister backdrop for long-buried secrets and fresh horrors. Following the successful debut “The Spy Coast,” Gerritsen returns to the quaint town of Purity, Maine with “The Summer Guests,” a tautly plotted mystery that expertly blends the clandestine world of retired spies with small-town murder investigation. The result is a gripping tale that showcases Gerritsen’s mastery of suspense and her knack for creating memorable characters.
A Mystery Submerged
When fifteen-year-old Zoe Conover goes missing while staying with her family at their summer cottage on Maiden Pond, the investigation quickly focuses on Luther Yount, a reclusive local farmer who was the last person seen with the girl. But when Zoe’s backpack is discovered miles away and a skeleton is dredged from the depths of the pond, what began as a missing person’s case transforms into something far more complex.
The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, primarily following:
- Maggie Bird, a retired CIA agent with a chicken farm and an extraordinary set of skills
- Jo Thibodeau, Purity’s young police chief struggling to prove herself
- Susan Conover, Zoe’s mother, navigating the nightmare of her daughter’s disappearance
Through these varied lenses, Gerritsen crafts a multi-layered mystery that tackles themes of family loyalty, buried traumas, and the impossible choices made in the pursuit of justice and self-preservation.
Spies, Secrets, and Skeletons
What elevates “The Summer Guests” above standard genre fare is Gerritsen’s deft handling of her ensemble cast. The “Martini Club” – consisting of five retired intelligence operatives who now spend their evenings sipping cocktails and discussing books – provides the story with both comic relief and seasoned expertise. These characters, particularly Maggie Bird with her no-nonsense approach to chicken farming and crime-solving, feel authentic and compelling.
The dynamic between the Martini Club and Police Chief Jo Thibodeau is especially well-rendered. Jo’s begrudging respect for their investigative prowess, balanced with her frustration at their interference, creates a tension that drives much of the story forward. Both sides must overcome their natural tendency toward secrecy to solve the mysteries at hand.
Gerritsen also excels at portraying the insular world of “summer people” and their complex relationship with locals. The wealthy Conover family and their neighbors represent privilege and entitlement, contrasted with the struggling Tarkin family, whose tragic history is inextricably tied to the pond’s dark secrets.
Strengths That Gleam Like Summer Waters
The greatest strengths of “The Summer Guests” include:
- Setting as Character: Maiden Pond itself becomes an ominous presence in the narrative. Gerritsen writes: “Here is where people come to disappear,” crystallizing the pond’s role as both a beautiful retreat and a repository of secrets.
- Character Development: The principal characters evolve meaningfully throughout the story. Jo Thibodeau’s growth from insecure acting chief to confident leader is particularly satisfying, while Susan Conover’s desperate search for her daughter draws readers deep into her psychological turmoil.
- Pacing: Gerritsen masterfully controls the release of information, with revelations timed for maximum impact. Just when one thread seems to resolve, another unravels, keeping readers engaged throughout.
- Historical Depth: The integration of a Cold War-era government project (MKUltra) adds fascinating complexity to the narrative, connecting past crimes to present dangers.
- Authentic Small-Town Politics: The dynamics of Purity, with its summer tourists, local resentments, and long memories, ring absolutely true and provide a rich backdrop for the criminal investigation.
A Few Ripples in the Narrative
Despite its considerable strengths, the novel isn’t without flaws:
- Plot Convolutions: Occasionally, the multiple mysteries layered atop one another become slightly unwieldy, particularly around the connection between the skeleton in the pond and the MKUltra subplot.
- Character Overload: With the five members of the Martini Club plus the Conover family and various townspeople, some secondary characters remain underdeveloped.
- Coincidental Timing: The convergence of events—Zoe discovering the skeleton just as her family arrives for a memorial service—strains credibility somewhat.
- Resolution Rush: The novel’s conclusion, while satisfying, feels slightly hurried compared to the carefully measured pacing of earlier chapters.
These minor criticisms, however, hardly detract from the novel’s overall impact and entertainment value.
A Skillful Blend of Genres
Gerritsen’s background as both a medical doctor and a thriller writer serves her well in “The Summer Guests.” Her descriptions of forensic evidence and procedural details feel authentic without bogging down the narrative. She writes with clinical precision about the skeleton’s analysis:
“The presence of composite resins used to bind the amalgam on the deceased’s etched tooth structure indicates this dental work was performed sometime after such resins were first introduced for amalgam restorations.”
Yet this technical expertise is balanced with emotional intelligence in portraying the grief and fear experienced by her characters. Susan’s anguish when she believes her daughter might be found dead is visceral and affecting.
Legacy of a Mystery Master
“The Summer Guests” continues Gerritsen’s impressive legacy as a mystery writer. Known primarily for her Rizzoli & Isles series (which inspired the popular television show), Gerritsen has proven with the Martini Club series that she can excel in a different framework—one that combines espionage elements with traditional mystery.
The novel fits comfortably alongside other contemporary small-town mystery series like Louise Penny’s Three Pines novels or Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries. Like those works, “The Summer Guests” uses its location as more than mere backdrop—the community itself becomes integral to the story’s resolution.
Fans of the first Martini Club novel, “The Spy Coast,” will appreciate the continued character development and deepening relationships, while newcomers will find enough contextual information to enjoy the story independently.
Final Verdict: A Summer Read Worth Savoring
“The Summer Guests” exemplifies what sophisticated mystery readers seek: compelling characters, authentic settings, and plots that challenge without confusing. Gerritsen’s prose is clear and efficient, with occasional flashes of lyrical description that elevate the narrative:
“Suddenly the woods opened up, and a view of Maiden Pond bloomed into sight, its surface was gilded by the afternoon sun… Except for a bird that chittered in a tree branch overhead, it was utterly silent here, the pond as flat as glass, its surface undisturbed by a single ripple.”
By interweaving the Cold War legacy of government experimentation with contemporary crimes and family dysfunction, Gerritsen has created a mystery that satisfies on multiple levels. The novel explores how secrets, when submerged, inevitably rise to the surface—sometimes decades later—with devastating consequences.
The bonus short story included at the book’s end (co-written with Lee Child) is an added treat, bringing together Gerritsen’s intelligence operative Maggie Bird with Child’s iconic Jack Reacher for a brief but entertaining tale.
With its strong sense of place, intricate plotting, and memorable characters, “The Summer Guests” is a worthy addition to Gerritsen’s impressive bibliography and an engrossing summer read—preferably enjoyed far from any placid, mystery-laden ponds.
For Fans Of…
- Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache series
- Julia Spencer-Fleming’s Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries
- William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor novels
- Gerritsen’s own Rizzoli & Isles series
- Small-town mysteries with historical elements and ensemble casts
Whether you’re already familiar with Purity, Maine or visiting for the first time, “The Summer Guests” offers a compelling invitation to dive beneath the surface of this seemingly tranquil town. Just be careful—the waters run deeper, and darker, than they first appear.
