Summers at the Saint

Summers at the Saint is a novel by American author Mary Kay Andrews, whose work frequently intertwines romance and mystery in the American South.

This fast-paced novel takes readers to a Georgia beachside resort nicknamed “the Saint,” where widow Traci Eddings is trying to keep the legacy of her husband’s family alive. A new summer at the Saint begins with a shocking murder and an investigation into a decades-old tragedy, unearthing betrayals and family secrets that stretch back a generation and threaten to bring down everything Traci has been fighting to preserve. The novel touches on themes of family legacy, Southern tradition, and women’s friendships and considers how the burdens of the past weigh down the present.

This guide refers to the hardcover edition published by St. Martin’s Press in 2024.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of rape, sexual harassment, physical abuse, child death, anti-gay bias, racism, illness, death, and substance use.

Plot Summary

As a child, Traci was enchanted with the castle-like coastal resort hotel known as the Saint Cecelia. However, when she and her best friend, Shannon, got jobs as lifeguards at the hotel pool, Traci learned that working-class families like hers were called “Ain’ts,” while the rich who patronized the hotel were referred to as “Saints.