The Summer Guests

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, gender discrimination,

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Discuss what you liked most and least about the book. Did a particular character, scene, or idea stick out to you? Why?

2. If you’ve read the first book in the Martini Club series, The Spy Coast, how would you compare this novel?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Consider the depiction of the Martini Club’s experiences of aging and retirement. Did you find their feelings about aging relatable? Why or why not?

2. Susan feels alienated and isolated from her husband’s family. Why do you think relationships with in-laws are often fraught?

3. The Conovers have a vacation home in Purity, Maine. Does the idea of spending an entire season in another location appeal to you? Where would you go, and why?

4. Police Chief Jo Thibodeau is under a lot of pressure as a young, female police chief to prove herself. Have you ever faced intense scrutiny at work or in your career? Could you relate to her feelings about it?

5. Do you agree with the premise that family loyalty comes first, as shown in The Summer Guests?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The book depicts the tensions between the “summer guests” and the local residents of Purity. How does this reflect real-world dynamics in vacation destinations? What elements besides class contribute to these tensions?

2. The Martini Club series is part of a subgenre of mystery-thrillers featuring retirees as protagonists (see also, for example, Richard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club). How do these books engage with the cultural discourse around aging?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why does The Summer Guests begin with Sam Tarkin’s story? How does that shape the story? What does it foreshadow? How would the novel be different if it started with the Conovers’ arrival at the cottage?

2. Characters like Maggie often rely on others’ misconceptions to pursue their own ends. How does this influence your understanding of the broader theme of the Difference Between Appearances and Reality?

3. Consider the novel’s use of shifting third-person limited perspectives. What stylistic techniques does Tess Gerritsen use to distinguish between the different perspectives? What makes these particular figures effective as point-of-view characters?

4. Discuss how your understanding of Elizabeth Conover changed over the course of the novel.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If this book were adapted into a movie, whom would you cast in the lead roles?

2. Imagine the Martini Club picks up and moves to another vacation spot, such as one that you have visited. How would that change the kinds of mysteries they would have to solve? What kind of characters would they come across in their investigations?

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