Too Old for This

At 75, Lottie Jones has traded in her old life for church socials and quiet routines—but her past as a serial killer refuses to stay buried. When ambitious TV producer Plum Dixon comes knocking with questions, Lottie realizes her secrets may finally be exposed. One problem: killing isn’t as easy as it used to be, and keeping the truth hidden takes more effort than her bad knees can handle. Darkly funny and deliciously twisted, this story proves you’re never too old for secrets, trouble, or a little blood on your hands. I might be in the minority here, but this book didn’t quite live up to my expectations or the hype. The concept of an an elderly woman with a dark past, haunted by her life as a serial killer sound promising and I thought this setup would lend itself to shocking reveals and tense moments, but I found myself reading a story that felt a bit drawn out and a plot that moved slower than I wanted. I found myself not as engaged with the story and felt like it could have been more thrilly. With that said, I can say Samantha Downing did an incredible job with Lottie’s character. She was vivid, layered, and often hilariously relatable in her grumpy, no-nonsense way. As a 32-year-old reading her story, I was also lowkey terrified of the aches, pains, and frustrations that come with aging 😅. Overall, this wasn’t a bad read, it just didn’t deliver the twists I was hoping for. If you’re looking for a slower, character-driven thriller with a unique MC, this might still work for you. But if you’re chasing nonstop suspense, you might feel a little let down like I did. If you've read this book, what did you think? Trigger Warnings: murder, attempted murder, serial killings, death of elderly characters, manipulation, violence, gore, language, blackmail, threats

This was a very interesting plot of an old woman being a serial killer... The ending left me with a question, but overall enjoyed this book!

Too Old for This is a fun and clever thriller that delivers on its killer premise but may not keep all readers on the edge of their seats. It's a solid, entertaining read, especially for fans of dark comedy and unconventional protagonists, but the execution doesn't quite match the brilliance of its initial idea for everyone.

Perfect for those seeking: a highly original and darkly funny thriller premise, a story with a sharp, witty, and morally grey elderly protagonist, and a quick, entertaining read that plays with genre conventions.

A retired serial killer living under a new identity in a quiet small town finds her carefully constructed life threatened when an investigative journalist begins digging into her past. As old secrets resurface and unwanted visitors keep appearing, Lottie Jones realizes that protecting her freedom may require returning to the one thing she thought she left behind—murder. This darkly humorous story, told from Lottie’s point of view, follows a retired serial killer who finds herself reluctantly pulled back into her old “hobby”—murder. Despite the fact that Lottie is, in fact, a serial killer, she narrates her story with such wit and charm that you can’t help but root for her. At heart, she’s just a little old lady who wants to enjoy a quiet retirement. Unfortunately, people keep getting in the way. As the story unfolds, Lottie navigates relationships with her future daughter-in-law, her close-knit group of friends, and begins planning the next stage of her life—if she can only stop killing people long enough to enjoy it. The characters, even the minor ones, are well developed and memorable. The story isn’t particularly realistic. For example, what kind of umbrella has a handle sturdy enough to bash someone’s head in? And how exactly does a 75-year-old woman manage to move full-grown bodies of dead weight? Still, the novel doesn’t take itself too seriously, and that’s part of its charm. It’s a fast-paced read that keeps the pages turning. You quickly become invested in seeing whether Lottie will manage to get away with murder or finally face the consequences of her actions. The ending isn’t entirely predictable, with a few small twists that keep things interesting. This isn’t really a thriller so much as a dark, humorous story, and if you approach it with that mindset, it makes for a very entertaining read. ⭐ 7.5 a 8 stars — A fun, darkly comic story with a unique narrator and plenty of entertaining moments.

I loved this book; I couldn't put it down. It had the right amount of suspense for me.