Killers of a Certain Age

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon. They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire—it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.  

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death. 

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman—and a killer—of a certain age.

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Published Aug 15, 2023

368 pages

Average rating: 7.3

601 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Killers of a Certain Age* is a fun, action-packed romp featuring sassy, strong, and empowered women over 60 who are retired assassins, bl...

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
8/10 stars
Reading about a group of kick-ass women over 60 was refreshing. Discovering that they are all retired assassins just kicks it up a notch. And that's where things start to go over the edge. Bracketed by 2 author's notes, we learn the story of their beginning and their ending(?) Or is it? These women are definitely individuals, but also a tight unit created out of whole cloth by a guiding Shepherdess. You will love Billie (narrator), Helen, Natalie, and Mary Alice.
boyleschris
Dec 14, 2025
Denise's recommendation.
RachelK
Mar 30, 2023
9/10 stars
Very enjoyable. Fast paced
Bosky
Dec 30, 2025
8/10 stars
Yes. I had fun with this one. I read about 20pages about 2 mos ago and wasn't feeling it. Then picked it up again and I really enjoyed this. Love the characters- 4 strong older women with strong wit. They work together well to get the job done. The also are good friends who have each other's back. This is what retirement should look like. Excited to see if there is a sequel. Would have been nice to see a little more diversity in the 4 women, but if theres a movie- I'm watching it. Can see it in my mind right now...
BookFairie
Aug 20, 2025
9/10 stars
I loved this story and set up. The older women kicking ass was the bomb. The attitudes you got from them was fantastic.

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