What do you think?
Rate this book
The Martini Club #3
The Shadow Friends
THE MARTINI CLUB IS NOT YOUR USUAL BOOK GROUP. THEY ALSO LOVE BIRD WATCHING.
THEY ARE ALSO RETIRED SPIES . . . SO THINGS CAN GET PRETTY EXCITING.
And now, driven from their peaceful home town to save a friend, Maggie Bird and her friends must rely on each other more than ever . . .
A murder at a global conference in Purity brings back an old flame for retired spy Ingrid - a fellow CIA agent she worked with decades ago in an operation that ended in the deaths of three people, including the young woman they were supposed to protect. Has the killer resurfaced after all these years? Now Ingrid faces a difficult choice: join her ex-lover in pursuit of the assassin or forsake the vow she made years ago to avenge the dead.
But when Ingrid abruptly vanishes, her husband Lloyd must spring to action. Lloyd, an ex-CIA analyst, has no experience in the field, but he does have the skills to find his wife. With a concerned Maggie in tow, he tracks Ingrid to Amsterdam, where he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that threaten Ingrid's life, and could lead to the end of the Martini Club.
Meanwhile in Maine, detective Jo Thibodeau – helped by the remaining members of the club, uncovers startling evidence that turns all their assumptions upside down about who the murderer really is.
THEY ARE ALSO RETIRED SPIES . . . SO THINGS CAN GET PRETTY EXCITING.
And now, driven from their peaceful home town to save a friend, Maggie Bird and her friends must rely on each other more than ever . . .
A murder at a global conference in Purity brings back an old flame for retired spy Ingrid - a fellow CIA agent she worked with decades ago in an operation that ended in the deaths of three people, including the young woman they were supposed to protect. Has the killer resurfaced after all these years? Now Ingrid faces a difficult choice: join her ex-lover in pursuit of the assassin or forsake the vow she made years ago to avenge the dead.
But when Ingrid abruptly vanishes, her husband Lloyd must spring to action. Lloyd, an ex-CIA analyst, has no experience in the field, but he does have the skills to find his wife. With a concerned Maggie in tow, he tracks Ingrid to Amsterdam, where he unwittingly sets off a chain of events that threaten Ingrid's life, and could lead to the end of the Martini Club.
Meanwhile in Maine, detective Jo Thibodeau – helped by the remaining members of the club, uncovers startling evidence that turns all their assumptions upside down about who the murderer really is.
307 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Tess Gerritsen
233 books22.2k followersInternationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.
While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, "Adrift", which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.
Tess's first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), and The Bone Garden (2007). Her books have been translated into 31 languages, and more than 15 million copies have been sold around the world.
As well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she has also been a #1 bestseller in both Germany and the UK. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon.) Critics around the world have praised her novels as "Pulse-pounding fun" (Philadelphia Inquirer), "Scary and brilliant" (Toronto Globe and Mail), and "Polished, riveting prose" (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the "medical suspense queen".
Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.
While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction. In 1987, her first novel was published. Call After Midnight, a romantic thriller, was followed by eight more romantic suspense novels. She also wrote a screenplay, "Adrift", which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.
Tess's first medical thriller, Harvest, was released in hardcover in 1996, and it marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list. Her suspense novels since then have been: Life Support (1997), Bloodstream (1998), Gravity (1999), The Surgeon (2001), The Apprentice (2002), The Sinner (2003), Body Double (2004), Vanish (2005), The Mephisto Club (2006), and The Bone Garden (2007). Her books have been translated into 31 languages, and more than 15 million copies have been sold around the world.
As well as being a New York Times bestselling author, she has also been a #1 bestseller in both Germany and the UK. She has won both the Nero Wolfe Award (for Vanish) and the Rita Award (for The Surgeon.) Critics around the world have praised her novels as "Pulse-pounding fun" (Philadelphia Inquirer), "Scary and brilliant" (Toronto Globe and Mail), and "Polished, riveting prose" (Chicago Tribune). Publisher Weekly has dubbed her the "medical suspense queen".
Now retired from medicine, she writes full time. She lives in Maine.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 929 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Martini Club #3
The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen
With this third book in The Martini Club series, we get to see our former spy friends, older and just as wise as ever, continuing to do what needs to be done to keep themselves off the radar of others while also keeping others safe. A renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies at a conference in Purity, Maine, now the home of former CIA operatives Ingrid, (and spouse, Lloyd), Maggie, Declan and Ben. Then a waitress for the conference hotel is murdered in a way that brings back Ingrid's last failed mission and she can't let this threat go without doing something about it.
Thirty years ago, Ingrid knew she was ready to give up the spy business to be with Lloyd, so much more trustworthy and emotionally dependable than her CIA lover, Rodrigo, a handsome, suave lover who Ingrid realized would always have a roving eye and active love life that included other women. Now Rodrigo wants her in his private agency of retired spies and also in his arms, Rodrigo, who is just as charming and handsome as ever. And he also wants revenge for their last mission together, to get justice for their co-workers and the woman they had been trying to protect.
Will the rest of the Purity group allow Ingrid to slink off alone to meet danger? No, of course not, so off some of them go to get Ingrid back, to stop her from whatever she is doing, and to find out just what is going on that made her leave them without telling them her plans. This group may be older in body but they have been very busy in their retired years. They are no where near as rusty as they might have been if they hadn't been living full lives and always brainstorming and challenging each other in life and play.
But they are dealing with assassins, people much younger and hungrier than they are now. On the home front, young police chief Jo Thibodeau, so often stymied by this group, but more often taken under their wing and fed and martini-ed now that they have all become such good friends, is having to deal with the fall out of whatever it is that Ingrid and company are doing. Jo is a favorite character of mine, sort of the everywoman more than meeting her match, over and over, when this group continues to go rogue, one way or another. It's nice to be back with these folks but it's hard to see some of them hurting when they can't understand why Ingrid won't let them help.
Publication August 25, 2026
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC
The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen
With this third book in The Martini Club series, we get to see our former spy friends, older and just as wise as ever, continuing to do what needs to be done to keep themselves off the radar of others while also keeping others safe. A renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies at a conference in Purity, Maine, now the home of former CIA operatives Ingrid, (and spouse, Lloyd), Maggie, Declan and Ben. Then a waitress for the conference hotel is murdered in a way that brings back Ingrid's last failed mission and she can't let this threat go without doing something about it.
Thirty years ago, Ingrid knew she was ready to give up the spy business to be with Lloyd, so much more trustworthy and emotionally dependable than her CIA lover, Rodrigo, a handsome, suave lover who Ingrid realized would always have a roving eye and active love life that included other women. Now Rodrigo wants her in his private agency of retired spies and also in his arms, Rodrigo, who is just as charming and handsome as ever. And he also wants revenge for their last mission together, to get justice for their co-workers and the woman they had been trying to protect.
Will the rest of the Purity group allow Ingrid to slink off alone to meet danger? No, of course not, so off some of them go to get Ingrid back, to stop her from whatever she is doing, and to find out just what is going on that made her leave them without telling them her plans. This group may be older in body but they have been very busy in their retired years. They are no where near as rusty as they might have been if they hadn't been living full lives and always brainstorming and challenging each other in life and play.
But they are dealing with assassins, people much younger and hungrier than they are now. On the home front, young police chief Jo Thibodeau, so often stymied by this group, but more often taken under their wing and fed and martini-ed now that they have all become such good friends, is having to deal with the fall out of whatever it is that Ingrid and company are doing. Jo is a favorite character of mine, sort of the everywoman more than meeting her match, over and over, when this group continues to go rogue, one way or another. It's nice to be back with these folks but it's hard to see some of them hurting when they can't understand why Ingrid won't let them help.
Publication August 25, 2026
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 solid stars for book 3 in the Martini Club series. I have read books 1 and 2 in the series. While this book would work as a stand alone, you will better understand some background elements to this book, i.e.:
How the Martini Club(a group of retired CIA covert operatives and 1 one desk analyst) came about in the fictional town of Purity, Maine.
See a senior citizen romance that starts in book 2 come into full bloom in this book.
This book opens with a global affairs conference in Purity. Various experts are speaking on doomsday scenarios that could cause catastrophic loss of life, such as germ warfare. When one of the speakers fails to appear, Ingrid, one of the retired spies, goes to investigate. When he doesn't answer the door, she persuades a maid to let her in. The scientist dies and Ingrid is put into isolation, for fear that she could be contagious. As the plot progresses, another death leads Ingrid to believe that a covert Russian assassin is killing people.
Besides the Martini Club members, there is a private contractor company, hired by the CIA, involved in the hunt for the killer. Part of the plot involves an incident from Ingrid's past. The suspense builds as some members of the club intervene unexpectedly and cause complications. I enjoy the characters and the plots in this series and recommend it to mystery fans and fans of the author.
Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
Triggers:none
Thank You Thomas and Mercer for sending med this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheShadowFriends #NetGalley.
Pub Date Aug 25 2026
How the Martini Club(a group of retired CIA covert operatives and 1 one desk analyst) came about in the fictional town of Purity, Maine.
See a senior citizen romance that starts in book 2 come into full bloom in this book.
This book opens with a global affairs conference in Purity. Various experts are speaking on doomsday scenarios that could cause catastrophic loss of life, such as germ warfare. When one of the speakers fails to appear, Ingrid, one of the retired spies, goes to investigate. When he doesn't answer the door, she persuades a maid to let her in. The scientist dies and Ingrid is put into isolation, for fear that she could be contagious. As the plot progresses, another death leads Ingrid to believe that a covert Russian assassin is killing people.
Besides the Martini Club members, there is a private contractor company, hired by the CIA, involved in the hunt for the killer. Part of the plot involves an incident from Ingrid's past. The suspense builds as some members of the club intervene unexpectedly and cause complications. I enjoy the characters and the plots in this series and recommend it to mystery fans and fans of the author.
Both my wife and I enjoy this series.
Triggers:none
Thank You Thomas and Mercer for sending med this eARC through NetGalley.
#TheShadowFriends #NetGalley.
Pub Date Aug 25 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When a Russian defector and disease expert is murdered at a global affairs conference, the local band of former spies must once again investigate the reasons for his death. Maggie, Ben, Declan, Ingrid and her husband Lloyd quietly retired from the CIA to the small coastal town of Purity in Maine and now call themselves the Martini Club, due to their practice of getting together each evening for a pre-dinner cocktail.
The subsequent death of a hotel waitress in a very specific way sends Ingrid echoes of a failed mission from thirty years ago. When she disappears, hoping to solve the current murder and put to rest ghosts from her past, it’s clear that the rest of the Martini Club are not going to just sit back and wait for her to return.
This is an engaging mystery with topical context in terms of geopolitical relationships and the development of bioweapons. Clever plotting and timely twists and revelations keep the suspense level high. As always, the characters are a delight and their on-going development and relationships one of the strengths of the series.
With thanks to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for a copy to read
The subsequent death of a hotel waitress in a very specific way sends Ingrid echoes of a failed mission from thirty years ago. When she disappears, hoping to solve the current murder and put to rest ghosts from her past, it’s clear that the rest of the Martini Club are not going to just sit back and wait for her to return.
This is an engaging mystery with topical context in terms of geopolitical relationships and the development of bioweapons. Clever plotting and timely twists and revelations keep the suspense level high. As always, the characters are a delight and their on-going development and relationships one of the strengths of the series.
With thanks to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for a copy to read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In this 3rd book in 'The Martini Club' series, the former CIA agents look into the murder of Russian defectors. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Purity, Maine has a population of three thousand people, five of them senior citizens with deep secrets. Maggie Bird, Declan Rose, Ben Diamond, and married couple Ingrid and Lloyd Slocum are retired CIA agents, laying low to enjoy their retirement years in privacy.
Maggie Bird
Declan Rose
Ben Diamond
Ingrid and Lloyd Slocum
The former agents call themselves 'The Martini Club' and frequently socialize together, which means delicious meals prepared by foodie Lloyd, as well as good liquor and interesting conversation.
The retirees also keep busy with other things, and Maggie owns a chicken farm, while Ingrid is currently the emcee for the Stone Coast Conference, whose topic this year is bioweapons.
The Stone Coast Conference brings back old memories for Ingrid when former CIA agent Rodrigo Estrada shows up. Thirty years ago, Ingrid and Rodrigo (who were lovers at the time) were part of a mission to protect a witness named Sophie. Sophie and two CIA agents were killed, one with a stiletto through his eye.
Rodrigo now runs a private security company called Argus, which does much the same thing as his and Ingrid's old CIA unit. Argus employs many retired CIA agents, and Rodrigo asks Ingrid to come on board. But Ingrid is happily married and values her peaceful life in Purity.
Ingrid's quiet days are about to be disrupted. A conference attendee, Dr. Mikhail Maslov - a bioweapons expert who defected from Russia - falls ill. Dr. Maslov recently consulted on an Ebola outbreak in Uganda, and at first, it's assumed he caught Ebola. But it's soon discovered Maslov was poisoned with radioactive polonium, which is how Russia kills defectors.
At about the same time, Purity's Chief of Police Jo Thibodeau finds Karen O'Brien - a waitress at the hotel hosting the conference - dead in the trunk of her car. Shockingly, Karen was stabbed through the eye with a stiletto, like the CIA agent three decades ago.
After these incidents, Rodrigo approaches Ingrid again, to tell her about three similar stiletto murders: 18 years ago, a Bulgarian journalist; 13 years ago, a Russian businessman in London; and 6 years ago, a Russian banker. Moreover, the stilettos used all have the symbol of the Vory, Russian organized crime. The conclusion is Russia hires the Vory to kill defectors and enemies.
Soon afterwards, Ingrid disappears, leaving a note for her husband Lloyd saying she's gone away and not to try to find her. Lloyd becomes distraught and phones Chief of Police Jo Thibodeau and the Martini Club. Various kinds of evidence indicate Ingrid flew to Amsterdam, and Lloyd and Maggie follow her there.
Meanwhile, Declan and Ben reach out to their CIA and Interpol contacts, to help figure out what's happening.
The remainder of the novel is action packed as Ingrid, Lloyd, and Maggie run around Europe, and Jo Thibodeau, the FBI, Declan, and Ben investigate the deaths of Dr. Maslow and Karen O'Brien.
The book is a page-turner filled with intrigue, danger, violence, and death. The novel kept my attention, but aspects of the story stretch credulity too much for me.
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
END SPOILER ALERT END SPOILER ALERT
That said, fans of the Martini Club would probably enjoy the book.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hillary Huber, who does a fine job
Thanks to Netgalley, Tess Gerritsen, and Brilliance Audio for an ARC of the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
September 13, 2026
Tess Gerritsen is one of my favorites. Unfortunately I managed to delete my review instead of saving it before I posted it here :(
I'm behind on my reviews or I would have written a new one.
The book was great! The story has the characters we know from before.
I'm behind on my reviews or I would have written a new one.
The book was great! The story has the characters we know from before.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I find my enjoyment of some series is based as much on my love of the characters as a well done plot. Such is the case with The Martini Club series. These retired folks are people I’d love to know and share cocktails with.
The Shadow Friends is the third in the series and as good as the first two. Purity, Maine, where the Martini Club makes its home, is hosting a conference on global affairs. When one of the speakers, a Russian defector, dies under mysterious circumstances, followed by the murder of a waitress, Ingrid finds herself drawn back into the spy game. But this time, she strikes off alone, leaving her husband, Lloyd, and her buddies and former CIA cohorts behind. I loved the underlying current of not knowing whom to trust. Also, poor Lloyd is left wondering exactly what’s behind Ingrid’s departure and whether a handsome ex-colleague might have something to do with it. The story’s romantic angle was heart warming even if I wanted to throttle Lloyd for putting himself and others in harm’s way.
There’s no downtime, with the gang finding themselves in multiple dangerous situations.
Gerritsen plays into the current political scene with the administration’s loyalty tests and seeming love of Putin’s dictatorship. Meanwhile, it’s a reminder that Russia doesn’t share our belief that the Cold War is over.
While it probably could work as a stand-alone, I believe it would work much better reading them in order. I don’t often compare books, but fans of The Thursday Murder Club series will also find much to appreciate with The Martini Club. The characters are similar in not just their age, but their intelligence levels. This does move at a faster pace, much more in the thriller than mystery category.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
The Shadow Friends is the third in the series and as good as the first two. Purity, Maine, where the Martini Club makes its home, is hosting a conference on global affairs. When one of the speakers, a Russian defector, dies under mysterious circumstances, followed by the murder of a waitress, Ingrid finds herself drawn back into the spy game. But this time, she strikes off alone, leaving her husband, Lloyd, and her buddies and former CIA cohorts behind. I loved the underlying current of not knowing whom to trust. Also, poor Lloyd is left wondering exactly what’s behind Ingrid’s departure and whether a handsome ex-colleague might have something to do with it. The story’s romantic angle was heart warming even if I wanted to throttle Lloyd for putting himself and others in harm’s way.
There’s no downtime, with the gang finding themselves in multiple dangerous situations.
Gerritsen plays into the current political scene with the administration’s loyalty tests and seeming love of Putin’s dictatorship. Meanwhile, it’s a reminder that Russia doesn’t share our belief that the Cold War is over.
While it probably could work as a stand-alone, I believe it would work much better reading them in order. I don’t often compare books, but fans of The Thursday Murder Club series will also find much to appreciate with The Martini Club. The characters are similar in not just their age, but their intelligence levels. This does move at a faster pace, much more in the thriller than mystery category.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.
February 19, 2025
"The past never dies; it just hides in the shadows". I love that quote and it could apply to more than aging spies on a mission to uncover what in their past is impacting their present. I love this series! It has mature main characters and proves that they may be old, but they still have it when it counts. It also proves "Old Guys (and Gals) Rule!". The plot is inventive and has our Martini Club members on the trail of an assassin who has struck close to home and that is something our friends can't let pass.
A conference is happening in Purity, Maine and Ingrid Slocum is on the organization committee. The conference has drawn international interest and when a speaker is found dead the Martini Club takes an interest, not just because Ingrid is involved, but because the dead man is a Russian defector. When another body is discovered, Ingrid recognizes the style as that of an assassin from her CIA days. That long ago failed mission has haunted Ingrid and to have the assassin so close draws an old lover back into her life. This is their chance to get the assassin and some justice.
Lloyd Slocum is not about to just sit back when his wife is in danger, and he and Maggie Bird follow them to Amsterdam only to wind up in the middle of an ongoing operation and in danger and when they return, they have brought that danger with them.
A conference is happening in Purity, Maine and Ingrid Slocum is on the organization committee. The conference has drawn international interest and when a speaker is found dead the Martini Club takes an interest, not just because Ingrid is involved, but because the dead man is a Russian defector. When another body is discovered, Ingrid recognizes the style as that of an assassin from her CIA days. That long ago failed mission has haunted Ingrid and to have the assassin so close draws an old lover back into her life. This is their chance to get the assassin and some justice.
Lloyd Slocum is not about to just sit back when his wife is in danger, and he and Maggie Bird follow them to Amsterdam only to wind up in the middle of an ongoing operation and in danger and when they return, they have brought that danger with them.
September 12, 2026
Really enjoyed this latest installment of The Martini Club series. Friendship, international intrigue, and martinis, what more could you want? Although the mystery in this novel stands alone, the relationships and connections and information about the group of retired CIA operatives develops throughout the series, so I'd recommend starting with the first book.
Ingrid is in charge of a local conference about global affairs and one of the attendees is killed. Then a server at the hotel is also found dead. There may be ties to Ingrid's past, and she joins forces with Rodrigo, a former lover and colleague.
I find this series to be fun and entertaining. I love that these former agents haven't settled down in their retirement, they still have what it takes to solve complicated international situations. I also really enjoy Jo, the local law enforcement officer who helps them navigate the local law situations. If you like the Thursday Murder Club or the Marlow Murders books, you should definitely pick this one up!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Hillary Huber does a phenomenal job giving voice to all of the characters. It's a great way to experience this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Ingrid is in charge of a local conference about global affairs and one of the attendees is killed. Then a server at the hotel is also found dead. There may be ties to Ingrid's past, and she joins forces with Rodrigo, a former lover and colleague.
I find this series to be fun and entertaining. I love that these former agents haven't settled down in their retirement, they still have what it takes to solve complicated international situations. I also really enjoy Jo, the local law enforcement officer who helps them navigate the local law situations. If you like the Thursday Murder Club or the Marlow Murders books, you should definitely pick this one up!
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Hillary Huber does a phenomenal job giving voice to all of the characters. It's a great way to experience this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
September 6, 2026
Two unexplained deaths at a conference pull the Martini Club of retired spies back into action in this the third in the series. It is, of course, lightweight stuff, but there is nothing wrong with that when you have an engaging plot, good character development, and good pacing. It’s probably not as good as the previous ones in the series, but it remains solid entertainment.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ingrid - retired ex-CIA agent - had been called in to emcee the conference being held at the Purity, Maine, hotel. A perfect choice, nevertheless, she knew she'd be glad when it was over. But the second morning, the speaker didn't show up and Ingrid asked Maggie to check his hotel room. What followed saw the conference closed down, the hotel restaurant closed, the big guns from surrounding districts to descend on Purity, and much more. But when Ingrid vanished, her husband, Lloyd, also an ex-spy but not in the field, was determined to find her. With Maggie along for the ride - to keep Lloyd safe - they headed for Amsterdam where they suspected Ingrid had gone. But the danger was overwhelming...
Detective Jo Thibodeau, local Purity cop, was used to the Martini Club and their ways, knew they were all ex-spies, and also knew they were intelligent and easily reached answers, well before she did. With only Ben & Declan left in Purity, Jo knew they could help her with searching for evidence. And they did - but what they found shocked them to the core. They needed to get Ingrid, Lloyd and Maggie home, and protect them until the killer was found. But could they?
The Shadow Friends is the 3rd in The Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen and wow! this one was a doozy! Starting with the event which shaped their lives well into the future, the chilling, fast paced nature of the plot was outstanding. A very hard book to put down! I really enjoy these 5 characters, and laugh at Jo - who is a follow-the-rules cop - when she had to bend those rules :) I highly recommend The Shadow Friends and the series (though suggest reading them in order) and can't wait for #4.
With thanks to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for my digital ARC to read and review.
Detective Jo Thibodeau, local Purity cop, was used to the Martini Club and their ways, knew they were all ex-spies, and also knew they were intelligent and easily reached answers, well before she did. With only Ben & Declan left in Purity, Jo knew they could help her with searching for evidence. And they did - but what they found shocked them to the core. They needed to get Ingrid, Lloyd and Maggie home, and protect them until the killer was found. But could they?
The Shadow Friends is the 3rd in The Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen and wow! this one was a doozy! Starting with the event which shaped their lives well into the future, the chilling, fast paced nature of the plot was outstanding. A very hard book to put down! I really enjoy these 5 characters, and laugh at Jo - who is a follow-the-rules cop - when she had to bend those rules :) I highly recommend The Shadow Friends and the series (though suggest reading them in order) and can't wait for #4.
With thanks to NetGalley & Thomas & Mercer for my digital ARC to read and review.
August 18, 2026
Retire another day.
When a Russian defector mysteriously collapses at a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine and a waitress is murdered at the same hotel, the Martini Club's peaceful (ahem) retirement from the CIA is once again abruptly interrupted - especially once one of their own recognizes disturbing connections to a mission gone wrong from three decades ago.
With the renewed interest in geriatric sleuths following the success of Richard Osman's 2020 novel The Thursday Murder Club , it's no surprise Tess Gerritsen created her own, decidedly more espionage-focused group of highly capable senior citizens with 2023's The Spy Coast , the first book in the highly recommended Martini Club series. But despite its geriatric members, the Martini Club does not deal with cozy mysteries. Instead, The Shadow Friends - the series' third installment - is another suspenseful, intelligent, and thoroughly entertaining thriller that is both intricately plotted and fast-paced, with plenty of international intrigue, chases, assassins, and retired spies who are, of course, more than capable of holding their own - and may indeed be saving the day, if not the world. And this particular installment feels especially timely.
But what really makes the series work is the characters. Gerritsen has created a wonderfully eccentric, complex, and capable group of five former spies (and their long-suffering counterpart, the local chief of police) who are impossible not to grow attached to. True to their former CIA careers, the Martini Club members are soon leaving their idyllic Maine retirement behind and jet-setting around the world in search of one of their own - and, of course, revenge.
If you haven't read the previous two installments, this can also be read as a standalone, although I'm not sure why you would want to deprive yourself of two more books about this particular group of spies.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, and impossible to put down, The Shadow Friends may just be my favorite installment in the series so far.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Shadow Friends" is slated to be released on August 25, 2026.
When a Russian defector mysteriously collapses at a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine and a waitress is murdered at the same hotel, the Martini Club's peaceful (ahem) retirement from the CIA is once again abruptly interrupted - especially once one of their own recognizes disturbing connections to a mission gone wrong from three decades ago.
With the renewed interest in geriatric sleuths following the success of Richard Osman's 2020 novel The Thursday Murder Club , it's no surprise Tess Gerritsen created her own, decidedly more espionage-focused group of highly capable senior citizens with 2023's The Spy Coast , the first book in the highly recommended Martini Club series. But despite its geriatric members, the Martini Club does not deal with cozy mysteries. Instead, The Shadow Friends - the series' third installment - is another suspenseful, intelligent, and thoroughly entertaining thriller that is both intricately plotted and fast-paced, with plenty of international intrigue, chases, assassins, and retired spies who are, of course, more than capable of holding their own - and may indeed be saving the day, if not the world. And this particular installment feels especially timely.
But what really makes the series work is the characters. Gerritsen has created a wonderfully eccentric, complex, and capable group of five former spies (and their long-suffering counterpart, the local chief of police) who are impossible not to grow attached to. True to their former CIA careers, the Martini Club members are soon leaving their idyllic Maine retirement behind and jet-setting around the world in search of one of their own - and, of course, revenge.
If you haven't read the previous two installments, this can also be read as a standalone, although I'm not sure why you would want to deprive yourself of two more books about this particular group of spies.
Fast-paced, suspenseful, and impossible to put down, The Shadow Friends may just be my favorite installment in the series so far.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Shadow Friends" is slated to be released on August 25, 2026.
September 17, 2026
This is outing number three for the plucky Martini Club, ex The Agency in various guises, there’s Ingrid and Lloyd Slocum, Ben Diamond, Declan Rose and Maggie Bird with long suffering local police chief, Jo Thibodeau. Ingrid organises a conference at a hotel at which a speaker and an hotel employee both dramatically and horribly die. The latter triggers something in Ingrid’s past and shortly afterwards she disappears to Lloyd’s dismay and fear. Lloyd has no field experience yet sets off, accompanied by Maggie, to try to track Ingrid down. Unwittingly he triggers a sequence of events that places Ingrid in great danger, with a target on her back. Meanwhile, in Purity, Maine, Jo continues to investigate and makes some shocking discoveries. Suddenly, peaceful Purity looks very dangerous indeed.
It’s amazing how many series Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club has spawned but this is one of the really good ones, full of excitement, danger and daring do alongside terrific characters who have strong bonds of friendship and more. This latest has a very compelling storyline, with plot elements that are extremely believable and it’s written in a very engaging style, with authentic, snappy dialogue. There are moments of high drama and suspense, a complex, fast paced and well constructed plot which has me gripped to the end.
Overall, this is another entertaining read in a very enjoyable series. I look forward to number four. Tess Gerritsen has created some special here.
With thanks to NetGalley especially to Random House U.K., Transworld Bantam for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
It’s amazing how many series Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club has spawned but this is one of the really good ones, full of excitement, danger and daring do alongside terrific characters who have strong bonds of friendship and more. This latest has a very compelling storyline, with plot elements that are extremely believable and it’s written in a very engaging style, with authentic, snappy dialogue. There are moments of high drama and suspense, a complex, fast paced and well constructed plot which has me gripped to the end.
Overall, this is another entertaining read in a very enjoyable series. I look forward to number four. Tess Gerritsen has created some special here.
With thanks to NetGalley especially to Random House U.K., Transworld Bantam for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.
August 24, 2026
🎧 Pub Week Audiobook Review🎧
Narrated by Hillary Huber
Since I listened to the first book, The Sky Coast, I’ve looked forward to listening to the next one. First, Hillary Huber does a phenomenal job with her narration. I think she has the perfect voice for each character. My favorite will always be Maggie Bird! She was made to narrate this series! She’s also a favorite!
Retired CIA agents are back at it again when a mysterious death of a man and a murder of a woman hit Purity, Maine.
I just love these characters so much. Gerritsen can weave suspense and humor at just the right time. Who doesn’t love senior citizens in their thrillers? If you’re a fan of those, definitely give this series a shot.
It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading them in order for a better experience.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Narrated by Hillary Huber
Since I listened to the first book, The Sky Coast, I’ve looked forward to listening to the next one. First, Hillary Huber does a phenomenal job with her narration. I think she has the perfect voice for each character. My favorite will always be Maggie Bird! She was made to narrate this series! She’s also a favorite!
Retired CIA agents are back at it again when a mysterious death of a man and a murder of a woman hit Purity, Maine.
I just love these characters so much. Gerritsen can weave suspense and humor at just the right time. Who doesn’t love senior citizens in their thrillers? If you’re a fan of those, definitely give this series a shot.
It can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend reading them in order for a better experience.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
August 26, 2026
Gerritsen’s third offering featuring retired spies living in Purity, Maine focuses on former CIA agent Ingrid Slocum. She is working as the travel coordinator for a bioweapons conference being held in town. The gathering is disrupted when Mikhail Maslov, a bioweapons expert who defected from Russia, is fatally poisoned, and another attendee is found dead in the trunk of a car with a stiletto sticking out of their eye. As the search for the truth evolves, it brings up emotional memories of a past mission for Ingrid Slocum. Gerritsen alternates the story between the past and present, and the flashbacks provide additional character details for the Martini Club members.
Forced to question every allegiance, the Martini Club must rely on the skills they tried to leave behind. In the game of revenge and deception, the past never dies—it just hides in the shadows.
Forced to question every allegiance, the Martini Club must rely on the skills they tried to leave behind. In the game of revenge and deception, the past never dies—it just hides in the shadows.
August 29, 2026
I liked the first two books in this series, but I really didn't like the third one. It's a DNF at 60%. I did try to push through, but eventually I just skipped ahead to the end to find out who the killer was. And... ugh.
The whole "Russian sleeper agents" angle was just so boring to me. And there was way too much Ingrid and Lloyd, who are my two least favorite members of the friend group.
I love Maggie, Ben, and Declan, but even they managed to be so annoyingly stupid in this book that I started wondering how these people ever survived their CIA careers in the first place...
Lloyd especially drove me crazy. Yes, I understand that he had a desk job and was desperate at this point in the story, but really? Couldn't he have stopped and listened for, like, five seconds?
And then there's Ingrid.
Oh, an old flame appears, so apparently I am going to behave worse than a teenager now.
The second book was my favorite because it was a "regular" crime story: five retired CIA employees getting involved in solving an ordinary murder. I really enjoyed that premise and the group dynamic.
The third book was basically: There are Russian sleeper agents! And we are all going to make incredibly stupid decisions!
Nope.
To make matters worse, I suspected who the sleeper was almost from the beginning, and I was right. I probably read too many crime novels by now to be easily surprised, but even so, this book just disappointed me.
I'm glad this was part of my Kindle Unlimited period, because I would have been really annoyed if I'd actually bought it.
The whole "Russian sleeper agents" angle was just so boring to me. And there was way too much Ingrid and Lloyd, who are my two least favorite members of the friend group.
I love Maggie, Ben, and Declan, but even they managed to be so annoyingly stupid in this book that I started wondering how these people ever survived their CIA careers in the first place...
Lloyd especially drove me crazy. Yes, I understand that he had a desk job and was desperate at this point in the story, but really? Couldn't he have stopped and listened for, like, five seconds?
And then there's Ingrid.
Oh, an old flame appears, so apparently I am going to behave worse than a teenager now.
The second book was my favorite because it was a "regular" crime story: five retired CIA employees getting involved in solving an ordinary murder. I really enjoyed that premise and the group dynamic.
The third book was basically: There are Russian sleeper agents! And we are all going to make incredibly stupid decisions!
Nope.
To make matters worse, I suspected who the sleeper was almost from the beginning, and I was right. I probably read too many crime novels by now to be easily surprised, but even so, this book just disappointed me.
I'm glad this was part of my Kindle Unlimited period, because I would have been really annoyed if I'd actually bought it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Tess Gerritsen, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
Tess Gerritsen returns with another stellar entry in her Martini Club series, proving once again why she remains one of the most dependable voices in modern suspense. Blending Cold War intrigue with contemporary global threats, she crafts a thriller that is both intelligent and relentlessly entertaining.
When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies under suspicious circumstances during a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine, the retired intelligence operatives of the Martini Club are pulled back into a world they thought they had left behind. As another murder exposes links to a disastrous mission from decades earlier, Ingrid Slocum finds herself confronting ghosts from her past alongside a former CIA colleague and one-time lover. Their search for answers stretches from coastal Maine to Amsterdam, where old enemies remain determined to bury long-hidden secrets. Meanwhile, Maggie Bird and the rest of the Martini Club must rely on the espionage skills they once hoped never to use again.
Tess Gerritsen has long been an author I can rely on whenever I want a gripping thriller, and this novel reinforces exactly why. Her storytelling is sharp and purposeful, with every chapter building momentum and driving the narrative forward. Short, punchy chapters create an addictive pace, while Gerritsen expertly balances suspense, action, and mystery to keep readers fully invested. The Cold War backdrop never feels dated; instead, it provides a fascinating foundation for a story filled with deception, revenge, and shifting loyalties.
The characters continue to be one foundational strength for series fans. They can appreciate spending more time with the members of the Martini Club, each bringing distinct personalities, experience, and wit to the investigation. While I am still becoming fully acquainted with every member of the ensemble, Gerritsen skillfully develops each character without losing sight of the central mystery. Ingrid, in particular, receives compelling depth as her past and present collide in emotionally satisfying ways.
The plotting is expertly layered, offering plenty of twists, surprises, and well-timed revelations that prevent the story from becoming predictable. Just when events appear to settle into a familiar pattern, Gerritsen shifts the narrative in unexpected directions, ensuring the suspense rarely lets up. The blend of international espionage, personal history, and modern geopolitical tension creates a thoroughly engaging thriller that feels both fresh and classic.
I have admired Tess Gerritsen’s work for many years, and this stands among the strongest novels she has written in quite some time. Fans of intelligent espionage thrillers and character-driven suspense will find much to enjoy, and I am already looking forward to seeing where the Martini Club heads next. Highly recommended.
Kudos, Madam Gerritsen, for another highly entertaining read!
Love/hate the review?
An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Tess Gerritsen returns with another stellar entry in her Martini Club series, proving once again why she remains one of the most dependable voices in modern suspense. Blending Cold War intrigue with contemporary global threats, she crafts a thriller that is both intelligent and relentlessly entertaining.
When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies under suspicious circumstances during a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine, the retired intelligence operatives of the Martini Club are pulled back into a world they thought they had left behind. As another murder exposes links to a disastrous mission from decades earlier, Ingrid Slocum finds herself confronting ghosts from her past alongside a former CIA colleague and one-time lover. Their search for answers stretches from coastal Maine to Amsterdam, where old enemies remain determined to bury long-hidden secrets. Meanwhile, Maggie Bird and the rest of the Martini Club must rely on the espionage skills they once hoped never to use again.
Tess Gerritsen has long been an author I can rely on whenever I want a gripping thriller, and this novel reinforces exactly why. Her storytelling is sharp and purposeful, with every chapter building momentum and driving the narrative forward. Short, punchy chapters create an addictive pace, while Gerritsen expertly balances suspense, action, and mystery to keep readers fully invested. The Cold War backdrop never feels dated; instead, it provides a fascinating foundation for a story filled with deception, revenge, and shifting loyalties.
The characters continue to be one foundational strength for series fans. They can appreciate spending more time with the members of the Martini Club, each bringing distinct personalities, experience, and wit to the investigation. While I am still becoming fully acquainted with every member of the ensemble, Gerritsen skillfully develops each character without losing sight of the central mystery. Ingrid, in particular, receives compelling depth as her past and present collide in emotionally satisfying ways.
The plotting is expertly layered, offering plenty of twists, surprises, and well-timed revelations that prevent the story from becoming predictable. Just when events appear to settle into a familiar pattern, Gerritsen shifts the narrative in unexpected directions, ensuring the suspense rarely lets up. The blend of international espionage, personal history, and modern geopolitical tension creates a thoroughly engaging thriller that feels both fresh and classic.
I have admired Tess Gerritsen’s work for many years, and this stands among the strongest novels she has written in quite some time. Fans of intelligent espionage thrillers and character-driven suspense will find much to enjoy, and I am already looking forward to seeing where the Martini Club heads next. Highly recommended.
Kudos, Madam Gerritsen, for another highly entertaining read!
Love/hate the review?
An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
September 23, 2026
4.5 stars. The third book in the Martini Club series finds the retired spies going up against Russian assassins after a renowned disease expert and Russian defector is killed during a global affairs conference held in Purity, Maine. A former CIA colleague and past lover of Ingrid's shows up at the conference too, offering her a position in his private intelligence firm.
The story takes the intrepid group of ex-spies to Amsterdam and Madrid and finally to a showdown back in Maine. Interesting characters and an exciting plot make for some great escapist reading. I zoomed through it in one day! Recommended for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, another series featuring elderly sleuths.
The story takes the intrepid group of ex-spies to Amsterdam and Madrid and finally to a showdown back in Maine. Interesting characters and an exciting plot make for some great escapist reading. I zoomed through it in one day! Recommended for fans of The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, another series featuring elderly sleuths.
January 20, 2026
I must confess I let The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen leapfrog over all of the books in my reading list on its arrival, despite it not being published until August 2026 because I love this
Martini Club series
so much. I think in my first review I talked about it being akin to the 'Thursday Murder Club on speed'. Thanks to the fact that all five members of this 'club' are ex-CIA, all with their own set of skills, which have only dulled a little in the decades since their retirement. I loved the first two books in this series. I probably didn't enjoy this quite as much, although the bar is possibly set unfairly high. This is similar to the first book in the series, when the past of one of the members comes back to haunt them and pull the group back into the life they left.
I loved that Gerritsen includes some commentary on the direction some of the security services (American alphabet agencies) are moving, cosying up to former enemies like Russia and agents forced to pledge their loyalties to power-hungry bureaucrats and politicians rather than the country and its citizens. Given what's happening in the USA at the moment, it's rather topical... if not ironic. Also interesting are the references (via speakers of the disrupted conference) to future dangers, such as bioweapons and biological warfare.
I've commented in previous posts that I'd love to see this translated onto the screen and given so many books are now being optioned for movies and streaming services I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
I loved that Gerritsen includes some commentary on the direction some of the security services (American alphabet agencies) are moving, cosying up to former enemies like Russia and agents forced to pledge their loyalties to power-hungry bureaucrats and politicians rather than the country and its citizens. Given what's happening in the USA at the moment, it's rather topical... if not ironic. Also interesting are the references (via speakers of the disrupted conference) to future dangers, such as bioweapons and biological warfare.
I've commented in previous posts that I'd love to see this translated onto the screen and given so many books are now being optioned for movies and streaming services I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The focus of this espionage fiction sequel is on one of the Martini Club members, Ingrid Slocum, and her marriage to her analyst husband, Lloyd. When a former colleague and lover comes back into Ingrid’s life and asks for her help with a case, it threatens her marriage. Gerritsen explores poison in all its forms and how it affects Ingrid’s idyllic existence in Purity, Maine, her marriage and her career. It was good to be reminded not to make room for temptation and to make sure that we thoroughly clean up all ‘messes’.
I love the focus on:
✔️retired career women (and spies at that!) who refuse to be sidelined and continue contributing to society by doing what they do best … spy.
✔️how doing the right thing is always worth it
✔️the price of living a lie
✔️the value of finding someone’s ‘Achilles’ heel’
✔️justice for people we’ve failed and lost
What a great title! I like how it refers to The Martini Club as well as ‘the fifth man’ in their newest case.
Somehow, I don't think we’ve seen the last of Rodrigo Estrada!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I love the focus on:
✔️retired career women (and spies at that!) who refuse to be sidelined and continue contributing to society by doing what they do best … spy.
✔️how doing the right thing is always worth it
✔️the price of living a lie
✔️the value of finding someone’s ‘Achilles’ heel’
✔️justice for people we’ve failed and lost
What a great title! I like how it refers to The Martini Club as well as ‘the fifth man’ in their newest case.
Somehow, I don't think we’ve seen the last of Rodrigo Estrada!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
August 31, 2026
4+ Stars
The Martini Club #3
Suspenseful
Great characters
Fast paced
Excellent flow
Fun
A retired group of ex-CIA friends live in the small resort town of Purity, Maine.
What could go wrong in this quiet and safe town?
Strong character development and strong characters.
Friendship, what-ifs, and love are explored.
In The Shadow Friends, the Martini Club deals with a situation (illness or is it murder) that occurs during a conference.
Then there is another murder in the parking lot at the conference. Are they related? Most likely.
And the fun begins.
I loved this book. It was well written and I was thrilled to be back with The Martini Club gang.
I’m happy to hear that a fourth “Martini Club” novel is the works.
There are some great interviews with Tess Gerritsen available on social media.
Two that I watched were The Thriller Mavens’ Sara DiVello on August 24, 2026 and The Poisoned Pen Bookstore’s Barbara Peters on August 27, 2026.
I highly recommend The Shadow Friends!
The Martini Club #3
Suspenseful
Great characters
Fast paced
Excellent flow
Fun
A retired group of ex-CIA friends live in the small resort town of Purity, Maine.
What could go wrong in this quiet and safe town?
Strong character development and strong characters.
Friendship, what-ifs, and love are explored.
In The Shadow Friends, the Martini Club deals with a situation (illness or is it murder) that occurs during a conference.
Then there is another murder in the parking lot at the conference. Are they related? Most likely.
And the fun begins.
I loved this book. It was well written and I was thrilled to be back with The Martini Club gang.
I’m happy to hear that a fourth “Martini Club” novel is the works.
There are some great interviews with Tess Gerritsen available on social media.
Two that I watched were The Thriller Mavens’ Sara DiVello on August 24, 2026 and The Poisoned Pen Bookstore’s Barbara Peters on August 27, 2026.
I highly recommend The Shadow Friends!
August 26, 2026
I received this recent release as an ARC from NetGalley, but I had to read the second book in the series first—always in order for me! This was probably my least favorite of the three, but I still found it to be an enjoyable, quick read.
The aging, retired CIA agents are back working together to solve a new mystery, this time involving one of their own and an unfortunate event from her past. Add in Russian spies, hired killers and biological warfare, and there’s plenty going on!
Overall, another quick and entertaining read, but this one just didn’t quite grab me as much as the first two. Still a solid addition to the series!
The aging, retired CIA agents are back working together to solve a new mystery, this time involving one of their own and an unfortunate event from her past. Add in Russian spies, hired killers and biological warfare, and there’s plenty going on!
Overall, another quick and entertaining read, but this one just didn’t quite grab me as much as the first two. Still a solid addition to the series!
September 3, 2026
my jaw is on the floor.
September 10, 2026
I really enjoyed returning to Purity, Maine, and to the fascinating group of retired CIA agents known as the Martini Club in The Shadow Friends. This is the third book in the series. I read and enjoyed the first book, The Spy Coast, but somehow missed the second. After reading this one, I may have to go back and catch up because I have become very attached to these characters.
This time, the story focused more closely on Ingrid Slocum and a painful chapter from her past. When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector died mysteriously during a global affairs conference in Purity, followed by the brutal murder of a hotel waitress, Ingrid recognized disturbing similarities to a disastrous CIA mission from nearly thirty years earlier. That mission had never completely left her, especially her belief that one of the men involved in discovering the safe house and killing the person she was tasked to safeguard escaped.
When Rodrigo, a former CIA colleague and former lover who shared that dangerous mission with Ingrid, suddenly reappeared, Ingrid was drawn back into a world she thought she had left behind. Ingrid traveled with him to Amsterdam searching for answers, while her worried husband Lloyd and their friend Maggie Bird refused to simply stay home and wait. What followed was a tense story filled with international intrigue, assassins, old secrets, shifting loyalties, and the constant question of whom Ingrid could really trust.
As much as I enjoyed the suspense, it was the personal side of the story that affected me most. I especially loved the relationship between Ingrid and Lloyd. Beneath all the espionage and danger was a very human story about marriage, trust, aging, friendship, and the choices we make about the life we want to live. Lloyd’s determination to find Ingrid was especially touching and reminded me just how deep their connection was.
I also loved that these characters may be retired, but they were far from completely hanging up their hats. Their friendship and loyalty to one another really was the heart of this series for me. They had complicated histories and carried emotional scars from their former lives, yet when one of their own was threatened, they immediately came together.
The Shadow Friends was suspenseful, emotional, and filled with enough twists to keep me guessing. Tess Gerritsen has created a group of characters I genuinely enjoy spending time with, and finishing this book made me realize how much I have come to care about the Martini Club. I may go back and read the second book that I missed, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing where Tess Gerritsen takes these characters next.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Shadow Friends in exchange for this honest review.
This time, the story focused more closely on Ingrid Slocum and a painful chapter from her past. When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector died mysteriously during a global affairs conference in Purity, followed by the brutal murder of a hotel waitress, Ingrid recognized disturbing similarities to a disastrous CIA mission from nearly thirty years earlier. That mission had never completely left her, especially her belief that one of the men involved in discovering the safe house and killing the person she was tasked to safeguard escaped.
When Rodrigo, a former CIA colleague and former lover who shared that dangerous mission with Ingrid, suddenly reappeared, Ingrid was drawn back into a world she thought she had left behind. Ingrid traveled with him to Amsterdam searching for answers, while her worried husband Lloyd and their friend Maggie Bird refused to simply stay home and wait. What followed was a tense story filled with international intrigue, assassins, old secrets, shifting loyalties, and the constant question of whom Ingrid could really trust.
As much as I enjoyed the suspense, it was the personal side of the story that affected me most. I especially loved the relationship between Ingrid and Lloyd. Beneath all the espionage and danger was a very human story about marriage, trust, aging, friendship, and the choices we make about the life we want to live. Lloyd’s determination to find Ingrid was especially touching and reminded me just how deep their connection was.
I also loved that these characters may be retired, but they were far from completely hanging up their hats. Their friendship and loyalty to one another really was the heart of this series for me. They had complicated histories and carried emotional scars from their former lives, yet when one of their own was threatened, they immediately came together.
The Shadow Friends was suspenseful, emotional, and filled with enough twists to keep me guessing. Tess Gerritsen has created a group of characters I genuinely enjoy spending time with, and finishing this book made me realize how much I have come to care about the Martini Club. I may go back and read the second book that I missed, and I am definitely looking forward to seeing where Tess Gerritsen takes these characters next.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Shadow Friends in exchange for this honest review.
January 27, 2026
Another gripping suspense thriller by Tess Gerritsen!
From the very start, the deaths and mystery dragged me in to the story, grabbed me by the throat and only let go after the final word was read. Even then I was still bracing myself! Wow a very interesting story with a suspense only Tess can orchestrate!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this review copy. This opinion is my own.
From the very start, the deaths and mystery dragged me in to the story, grabbed me by the throat and only let go after the final word was read. Even then I was still bracing myself! Wow a very interesting story with a suspense only Tess can orchestrate!!!
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this review copy. This opinion is my own.
August 25, 2026
the setup…
Ingrid Slocum is helping to facilitate the annual Stone Coast Conference at the Cod Cove Resort in Purity. Things go smoothly until one of conference headliners, a former Russian defector, is found unconscious in his hotel room. When one of the resort staff is later found murdered, Ingrid recognizes a link to her last failed mission twenty-eight years ago…a stiletto left on site. “Coincidentally”, Rodrigo Estrada, Ingrid’s former colleague (and lover) shows up the conference, asking her to join him to find who’s murdering former Russian defectors. She can’t resist as that last mission still weighs heavily so she leaves behind the band of former operatives known as The Martini Club, including husband Lloyd.
the heart of the story…
This time it’s the hunters becoming the hunted as Ingrid rejoins that world she left behind without a word to her husband or friends. Of course, Maggie, Declan and Ben go into action but Lloyd, a former desk analyst, insists he be in the field with them, adding even more complications in Purity and later in Amsterdam. Things get so dicey as both teams race to find who’s behind the murders and the mole.
the narration…
Hillary Huber as the voice of this series just elevates a really great story even higher. Her warm tone, excellent storytelling skills and voice distinctions are perfection.
the bottom line…
I loved this story and the series is now one of my top favorites. This remarkable and unconventional group of friends and former agency operatives are so good at what they do even in retirement. It was great seeing that other side of Ingrid and a glimpse into her former life. I can’t get enough of The Martini Club. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Ingrid Slocum is helping to facilitate the annual Stone Coast Conference at the Cod Cove Resort in Purity. Things go smoothly until one of conference headliners, a former Russian defector, is found unconscious in his hotel room. When one of the resort staff is later found murdered, Ingrid recognizes a link to her last failed mission twenty-eight years ago…a stiletto left on site. “Coincidentally”, Rodrigo Estrada, Ingrid’s former colleague (and lover) shows up the conference, asking her to join him to find who’s murdering former Russian defectors. She can’t resist as that last mission still weighs heavily so she leaves behind the band of former operatives known as The Martini Club, including husband Lloyd.
the heart of the story…
This time it’s the hunters becoming the hunted as Ingrid rejoins that world she left behind without a word to her husband or friends. Of course, Maggie, Declan and Ben go into action but Lloyd, a former desk analyst, insists he be in the field with them, adding even more complications in Purity and later in Amsterdam. Things get so dicey as both teams race to find who’s behind the murders and the mole.
the narration…
Hillary Huber as the voice of this series just elevates a really great story even higher. Her warm tone, excellent storytelling skills and voice distinctions are perfection.
the bottom line…
I loved this story and the series is now one of my top favorites. This remarkable and unconventional group of friends and former agency operatives are so good at what they do even in retirement. It was great seeing that other side of Ingrid and a glimpse into her former life. I can’t get enough of The Martini Club. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 13, 2026
Retired CIA operatives Ingrid, Lloyd, Ben, Maggie and Declan return in this third edition. One of them returns to action and, of course, the others back her up. A man is killed under suspicious circumstances and then the next body has a stiletto in her eye. Familiar territory for the exes.
I enjoyed the first two books and this one too. They are a formidable group despite being retired. They have not lost their skills. And I have always been a fan of police chief Jo Thibodeau. Good edition to the series.
I enjoyed the first two books and this one too. They are a formidable group despite being retired. They have not lost their skills. And I have always been a fan of police chief Jo Thibodeau. Good edition to the series.
August 23, 2026
As a long-time fan of Tess Gerritsen, I went into The Shadow Friends expecting something much darker and more intense. It took me a little while to adjust, because this is a very different side of Gerritsen from the one I know and love from the Rizzoli & Isles series.
Once I stopped expecting that familiar cold, tense atmosphere, I actually started having a lot of fun. The best way I can describe this book is Miss Marple on martinis, with a touch of James Bond. There are retired spies, old secrets, suspicious deaths, plenty of bodies and a group of people who may technically be retired but clearly never got the memo.
For a while, it really worked for me. The mystery was intriguing, the book was incredibly easy to read, and there was a point when I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. I especially enjoyed Maggie, Declan, Ben and Jo. Their interactions brought some much-needed humour to the story, and honestly, I would have happily read an entire book about these retired spies getting themselves into increasingly ridiculous situations while poor Jo tries to maintain some semblance of law and order.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the story started losing me.
One of my biggest issues was that I never truly believed these characters were retirement age. Take away the occasional reminder and they could easily have been in their forties. I wasn’t expecting stereotypical frail elderly characters, but I wanted their age to actually be part of their lives. Give me aching knees after crouching down, reading glasses, slower recovery after physical exertion — something. These are highly capable former spies and I loved that, but their bodies seemed completely untouched by time. It felt like they had simply been written as younger characters and then given older ages.
And then there was Ingrid.
Unfortunately, she ended up being my least favourite character. I actually liked the idea of an older woman being portrayed as desirable, sexual and affected by the return of an old flame. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying attention or remembering a passionate relationship from decades ago. My problem was what Ingrid did with those feelings.
Her behaviour around Rodrigo often felt surprisingly immature, and I struggled with how casually her 28-year marriage to Lloyd seemed to be treated. Lloyd’s love for Ingrid was obvious; Ingrid’s love for Lloyd never felt nearly as convincing to me. By the end, I was left with the uncomfortable impression that she stayed with him partly because he represented the safe, comfortable life she already had rather than because, after everything, he was unquestionably the person she wanted to choose.
Ironically, I enjoyed the book considerably more whenever Ingrid and Lloyd moved into the background and Maggie, Declan, Ben and Jo took over. Their dynamic felt much closer to what I wanted from the premise of a group of retired spies solving crimes.
The ending didn’t help. After so much build-up, the final confrontation felt surprisingly rushed, with the climax unfolding over what felt like only a handful of paragraphs. There were plenty of bodies throughout the story, yet many of those deaths seemed to leave remarkably little emotional weight or consequence behind. The final revelations were also fairly predictable, so instead of finishing on a high, the story ended with more of a shrug.
There is still plenty to enjoy here. Gerritsen remains an effortlessly readable writer, the premise is fantastic, and the Martini Club itself has a lot of charm. This simply confirmed that, for me, Gerritsen shines brightest when she is writing her darker, colder, more intense thrillers.
A generous 3 stars. 🍸
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Once I stopped expecting that familiar cold, tense atmosphere, I actually started having a lot of fun. The best way I can describe this book is Miss Marple on martinis, with a touch of James Bond. There are retired spies, old secrets, suspicious deaths, plenty of bodies and a group of people who may technically be retired but clearly never got the memo.
For a while, it really worked for me. The mystery was intriguing, the book was incredibly easy to read, and there was a point when I genuinely didn’t want to put it down. I especially enjoyed Maggie, Declan, Ben and Jo. Their interactions brought some much-needed humour to the story, and honestly, I would have happily read an entire book about these retired spies getting themselves into increasingly ridiculous situations while poor Jo tries to maintain some semblance of law and order.
Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, the story started losing me.
One of my biggest issues was that I never truly believed these characters were retirement age. Take away the occasional reminder and they could easily have been in their forties. I wasn’t expecting stereotypical frail elderly characters, but I wanted their age to actually be part of their lives. Give me aching knees after crouching down, reading glasses, slower recovery after physical exertion — something. These are highly capable former spies and I loved that, but their bodies seemed completely untouched by time. It felt like they had simply been written as younger characters and then given older ages.
And then there was Ingrid.
Unfortunately, she ended up being my least favourite character. I actually liked the idea of an older woman being portrayed as desirable, sexual and affected by the return of an old flame. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying attention or remembering a passionate relationship from decades ago. My problem was what Ingrid did with those feelings.
Her behaviour around Rodrigo often felt surprisingly immature, and I struggled with how casually her 28-year marriage to Lloyd seemed to be treated. Lloyd’s love for Ingrid was obvious; Ingrid’s love for Lloyd never felt nearly as convincing to me. By the end, I was left with the uncomfortable impression that she stayed with him partly because he represented the safe, comfortable life she already had rather than because, after everything, he was unquestionably the person she wanted to choose.
Ironically, I enjoyed the book considerably more whenever Ingrid and Lloyd moved into the background and Maggie, Declan, Ben and Jo took over. Their dynamic felt much closer to what I wanted from the premise of a group of retired spies solving crimes.
The ending didn’t help. After so much build-up, the final confrontation felt surprisingly rushed, with the climax unfolding over what felt like only a handful of paragraphs. There were plenty of bodies throughout the story, yet many of those deaths seemed to leave remarkably little emotional weight or consequence behind. The final revelations were also fairly predictable, so instead of finishing on a high, the story ended with more of a shrug.
There is still plenty to enjoy here. Gerritsen remains an effortlessly readable writer, the premise is fantastic, and the Martini Club itself has a lot of charm. This simply confirmed that, for me, Gerritsen shines brightest when she is writing her darker, colder, more intense thrillers.
A generous 3 stars. 🍸
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2026
The Martini Club is back again! Book 3 in this serious and it's another great addition the series.
In this one, we get to know some of their past a little more. A group of spies can't have always had easy previous cases and now that they are retired, the past of one of them is coming back to haunt them. Even though this one felt a little big on the conspiracy and just how deep their previous cases could go, I was completely drawn in and rolled with it. I just love this group, so getting a glimpse into the previous days and the previous cases was great, even if heartbreaking for what they'd given up for the life they'd lived.
And I love that they've fully roped in their local officer. She's such a fun, skeptical addition to their group and I loved her strong personality and sharp insight. I was honestly not sure, as the ending approached, who all would make it out of this one. Such a compelling mystery and action driven story. I did the audio and I highly recommend. I loved this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
In this one, we get to know some of their past a little more. A group of spies can't have always had easy previous cases and now that they are retired, the past of one of them is coming back to haunt them. Even though this one felt a little big on the conspiracy and just how deep their previous cases could go, I was completely drawn in and rolled with it. I just love this group, so getting a glimpse into the previous days and the previous cases was great, even if heartbreaking for what they'd given up for the life they'd lived.
And I love that they've fully roped in their local officer. She's such a fun, skeptical addition to their group and I loved her strong personality and sharp insight. I was honestly not sure, as the ending approached, who all would make it out of this one. Such a compelling mystery and action driven story. I did the audio and I highly recommend. I loved this one!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've read all three books in the Martini Club series now, and I think this may be my favorite so far. I already knew and liked this group of retired spies, but The Shadow Friends gave me a chance to know Ingrid much better, and I really enjoyed having her take center stage.
When a Russian defector and disease expert dies during a conference in Purity, Maine, it soon becomes clear that what is happening may be connected to a disastrous mission from Ingrid's past. That sends Ingrid back into a world she thought she had left behind and brings a former CIA colleague—and former lover—back into her life. Before long, Lloyd and Maggie are following her back to Amsterdam while the rest of the Martini Club becomes involved back home.
One of my favorite things about this series is the contrast between who these characters are now and who they used to be. They may be retired, but when trouble comes their way, those old instincts kick in. I really liked seeing Lloyd become more more participatory in the action this time.
This book had everything I wanted from the third book: murder, old secrets, espionage, international intrigue, danger, and characters I already happy to keep spending time with. I hated to say goodbye. Tess Gerritsen has created a group that I definitely want to keep following if ever there are more books to come.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
When a Russian defector and disease expert dies during a conference in Purity, Maine, it soon becomes clear that what is happening may be connected to a disastrous mission from Ingrid's past. That sends Ingrid back into a world she thought she had left behind and brings a former CIA colleague—and former lover—back into her life. Before long, Lloyd and Maggie are following her back to Amsterdam while the rest of the Martini Club becomes involved back home.
One of my favorite things about this series is the contrast between who these characters are now and who they used to be. They may be retired, but when trouble comes their way, those old instincts kick in. I really liked seeing Lloyd become more more participatory in the action this time.
This book had everything I wanted from the third book: murder, old secrets, espionage, international intrigue, danger, and characters I already happy to keep spending time with. I hated to say goodbye. Tess Gerritsen has created a group that I definitely want to keep following if ever there are more books to come.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 11, 2026
Meh. The first 2 books were great but this third was a real
clunker. Sadly by the end, I did not care what happened to Ingrid. Her behavior in this book well.. sorta made me want her dead 💀 🫣. Rodrigo.. seriously 😒 aren’t you a little long in the tooth for a mid life crisis, Ingrid. Ugh.
AND the plot was SO boring. Russians really?!? Maybe 3 stars ⭐️ was too generous 🤣🤣🤣
clunker. Sadly by the end, I did not care what happened to Ingrid. Her behavior in this book well.. sorta made me want her dead 💀 🫣. Rodrigo.. seriously 😒 aren’t you a little long in the tooth for a mid life crisis, Ingrid. Ugh.
AND the plot was SO boring. Russians really?!? Maybe 3 stars ⭐️ was too generous 🤣🤣🤣
Displaying 1 - 30 of 929 reviews