Deanna Raybourn's Kills Well with Others is a thrilling sequel to her bestselling novel Killers of a Certain Age, bringing back the dynamic quartet of senior assassins—Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie—for another high-stakes adventure. Released on March 4, 2025, this installment delves deeper into the complexities of aging, friendship, and the relentless world of espionage.

After a period of relative calm, the four women are thrust back into action when a new threat emerges: an Eastern European gangster with a penchant for eliminating those who stand in his way. Complicating matters further, a mole within their former organization, the Museum, has compromised their past missions, making them prime targets. The narrative weaves through various global locales as the team endeavors to unmask the traitor and neutralize the looming danger.

Raybourn's portrayal of her protagonists is both refreshing and empowering. These women, seasoned by years of experience, defy traditional stereotypes associated with aging. Their camaraderie and sharp wit infuse the story with humor and warmth. As noted in a Kirkus Reviews starred review, the novel is "a nonstop-action thriller that’s often disconcertingly funny in posing moral questions about the murder of horrible people."
KIRKUS REVIEWS

The plot is a tapestry of suspense and action, seamlessly transitioning between past and present assignments. This structure not only enriches character development but also maintains a brisk narrative pace. A reviewer from Bookshelf Fantasies remarked, "Both books prove that deadly women… of a certain age… make for excellent entertainment."
BOOKSHELF FANTASIES

However, some readers felt that the sequel didn't quite capture the same intensity as its predecessor. Lesa's Book Critiques mentioned, "While I enjoyed Deanna Raybourn’s second book featuring her retired spies, Kills Well with Others, I preferred the first in the series, Killers of a Certain Age."
LESASBOOKCRITIQUES.COM

In conclusion, Kills Well with Others is a commendable addition to Raybourn's series, offering a blend of action, humor, and insightful commentary on aging and resilience. Fans of the first installment will appreciate the continued adventures of these formidable heroines, while new readers will find an engaging and standalone narrative.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The girls ride again when The Museum is in trouble in this high stakes, high action foray away from their retirement. Definitely give this all-woman spy team a chance!

Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn is a delightful, twisty, and hilarious novel that is a true page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it! This thrilling blend of Golden Girls meets James Bond is a journey that you won't want to miss out on.

Deanna Raybourn returns with a follow up to Killers of a Certain Age. Kills Well with Others is an equally funny adventure about the group of four female senior assassins reunited on another mission.

The four characters come out of retirement to take on a revenge mission against the leader of a crime cartel. When one of their homes is burned to the ground, they all must find a safe house bringing their loved ones along. The women’s backstories and semi-retirement plans are revealed as they juggle their need for support with a fierce independence. Humor, twists and fast paced action make this sequel an enjoyable read. Raybourn makes it fun to root for killers. I can’t wait for more in this series!

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I had always wanted to read this author and really enjoyed Killers of a Certain Age. I was thrilled the Killers of a Certain Age would continue as a series. The women seemed to be retired without being erased after the last adventure about two years ago. We have Helen, Natalie, Mary Alice and Billie. We mostly have Billie telling us their story.

The women are about 60 and worked previously for the "Museum." Now Naomi, the head of the museum summons them. But it is a personal mission, as an agent from Provenance, Lillian Flanders, has been murdered and Naomi herself is in danger and so are the four ladies. Lillian sent the four on a job about 40 years ago.

So now they go to end anyone who might be avenging that kill, since it was their only contact with Lillian. The ladies gather interesting information and work out various connections. We get flash backs in time to the original job and other related events.

It's exciting and dangerous. Our team of ladies have various circumstances since they were "let go" without the normal pensions of the Museum for retirees. But since they are probably also on the current killer's list, they work the case. We get an update on their current personal relationships as they end up bringing their loved ones to a safe house as things become even more perilous.

I liked these smart women, their skills, and how they cared for each other. Luckily they persevered and I have to wonder if they will have more adventures.

The sleek sexagenarian assassins are at it again. This time their retirement is disturbed when
a fellow operative is murdered, with a small carved black wolf left behind as a talisman Their organization, The Museum, takes blown covers very seriously and they are sent on a revenge mission with their unlikely target a socially avoidant member of a notorious Eastern European crime cartel, who seems to eschew the family business in favor of the companionship of a teddy bear. But when things go south, as they always do, and one of their homes are burned, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie, have to find a safe house, or more than one, which means they need to do some serious globetrotting, figure out who to trust, who is betraying them, and perhaps most risky, for these fiercely independent women, who they can rely on for support. Billie’s backstory deepens as the timeline shuttles decades earlier to unravel clues, including clues about Billie’s uncompromising, sometimes icy, dedication to her chosen occupation. Very dark humor, some fascinating spy tricks of the trade, hairpin plot twists and yes! even a life and death high speed train scene. Grab a handhold and enjoy.

This book invites readers to again spent time with the Killers of a Certain Age. Although I have not read the first in this series, I felt that I was able to jump right in.

Readers meet four women who have a spectacular skill set including proficiency in disguise, strategy and killing. They are Helen, Billie, Natalie and Mary Alice. These women are called back into service to avenge a colleague’s murder and the mayhem then briskly takes off.

This book is full of action, drama, excitement, good characters, a variety of global settings and more. It is a kind of James Bond for the older woman (but not too old) vibe. I found it to be very enjoyable.

I have read other series by this author. This one is a bit different. Kudos to Raybourn for doing something new …and succeeding.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS is the second book in the Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. I simply adored the first book, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, so the moment I found a sequel was available, I jumped at the chance to read it. In my humble opinion, I think this newest release is even better! There’s humor, suspense, mystery, action galore, and four sassy senior citizens who act nothing like their age. I enjoyed getting to know them better through the chapters that jumped back in time to when they were young women. The author did an amazing job tying the past in with the present. The story captivated me, and I didn’t want to put it down until I’d read the very last page. If you enjoy a humorous, action-packed read with memorable characters, then I highly recommend Kills Well With Others.

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age carved out its own space in the mystery/thriller genre, proving that zany retirees aren’t just a Thursday Murder Club phenomenon. Her "retired" female assassins are formidable, and in Kills Well with Others, Billie, Helen, Natalie and Mary Alice are back in action. Tasked with eliminating a fellow assassin targeting people connected to a past mission, they also have to contend with a mole leaking information and keeping loved ones safe while traveling the globe. The novel shifts between timelines, offering thrilling glimpses into Billie's early days as an operative while providing some valuable context. Raybourn crafts fantastic characters—though Billie can be tough to warm up to—and delivers constant action. This series would be perfect for a limited-release adaptation, and since the books must be read in order, starting with book one is no hardship—it’s just as fun.

This follow-up adventure about a team of 60-somethiing-year-old women assassins is fast-paced, funny, exciting, and an absolute delight. Who knew that we'd all end up rooting for killers? There's much more to the story, of course, and there are plenty of reasons to put this deadly team into the "good guys" column. The book is lots of fun and impossible to put down. Highly recommended.

Thank you, Berkley, for sending me a copy of this one. I didn't really care for the first book in this series. I just don't really connect crime books. So this wasn't for me.

Four senior female assassins make a comeback to solve a mystery involving an old Russian gangster and a Museum mole that has them travelling the globe in this fast-paced and funny espionage novel perfect for fans of Richard Oseman's Thursday murder club series. It was good on audio but not quite as compelling as the first book in the series for me. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!

This is the second book featuring the four dynamic women of a certain age who “stand between good and decent people and chaos…necessary monsters.” In other words, assassins.

Called out of semi retirement, the four have a new mission. Back together again and reliving some of their past assignments, Billie, Helen, Natalie, and Mary Alice each bring certain skills and abilities to work. Their activities take them to many exciting places and often in dangerous situations with only each other and their wits for success and survival.

I enjoy the characters and their relationships with each other. Not exactly friends but bound by camaraderie much stronger as they have faced many life and death situations. I like that they are older, basically 60ish, and have a unique attitude about their lives and their jobs with the Museum.

In this particular main duty, the group’s focus is on chasing down a lost piece of art that was looted during WWII and hidden away until the bad guys decide to bring it out for sale on the black market. There are reminisces about the past and some of their other kills.

I love the way the author writes and I’ve fallen in love with another historical mystery series but I am quite fond of these killers of a certain age as well. I’d definitely read another book about them and more missions. They are getting a little tired, however!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Books for the e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I do suggest you start with the first in the series.

Four retired female assassins - pulled back together for another job. A mysterious death that leaves a calling card tied to a hit the 4 did years ago.

This was such a fun read! I love these four women and their adventures. I love their old stories of hits, their stories of now and their retirement, and the struggles they have with normal relationships. It all feels realistic and is mixed in with such good humor and witty banter.

And the mystery was great! It was an absolute race, from one surprise to the next as they juggled globe trotting hunting down the next clue in the puzzle and trying to stay ahead of the mysterious person bringing up their past. Having the history with the fun friend group from the first one made the banter and adventures just a little sweeter this time. 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.

I was late to discover Deanna Raybourn's "Killers of a Certain Age" series, featuring a quartet of assassins in their sixties and seventies, so I didn't have to wait long for this second story. In "Kills Well With Others," readers reunite with Billie, Helen, Natalie, and Mary Alice a couple of years after the events of the first book, where they narrowly escaped elimination by their former employers. Now, they're pulled from retirement again when it appears a surviving relative of a former target is seeking revenge on everyone involved in that operation. The ladies track down the likely suspect, but somehow, the danger only escalates after they think the job is done.

Raybourn has again crafted a clever mystery with twists, turns, and cutting wit. Her signature humor shines across a globe-trotting canvas that takes readers from familiar settings to exotic locales. The charm of this series continues to be the dynamic between these four unforgettable women, whose decades of friendship and professional partnership make for compelling reading. Readers are also treated to flashbacks that deepen our understanding of how these four women became the team they are today.

The international chase sequences are impressive. The writing showcases the author's research and imagination. However, things started to feel drawn out and confusing about three-quarters of the way through the book. I got lost amid the rapid succession of European locations—Budapest, Vienna, and former Yugoslav territories. Everything kind of blurred together and gave me a "can we get to the end" feeling.

Nonetheless, "Kills Well With Others" delivers exactly what fans of the first book will be looking for: more adventure, danger, and heartwarming moments between these unforgettable characters. I have high hopes that this assassin quartet has more missions ahead!

Thanks to Berkley for an advanced copy of Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn.

I loved Killers of a Certain Age, so was looking forward to seeing my favorite senior assassins back in action in this sequel. And it was such a fun book!

Billie, Helen, Mary Alice and Natalie are back in action when they receive a call to tackle the greatest challenge of their career. In a globe trotting adventure my favorite assassins are dealing with a case from 30+ years ago and trying to root out a mole in their organization.

This book was just as much fun as the first and full of action, entertainment and snark.

I highly recommend reading KIllers of a Certain Age prior to Kills Well With Others if you haven't.

KIlls Well With Others comes out March 4th.

Four retired assassins are pulled back into the deadly game when a shadowy figure targets their organization. Tasked with eliminating the threat and exposing a mole, the women embark on a perilous global mission, facing their most challenging enemy yet.

This is a compelling novel with a varied cast and heart-pumping action. The mystery is complex and takes the characters to multiple locations worldwide. It’s a fun read.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I was so excited to see that there would be a continuation of the stories of the adventurous protagonists from Killers of a Certain Age, and the book did not disappoint! One thing I really appreciate about these books is the way Raybourn lets us have the action and fun of classic spy novels while still addressing the realities of trauma, sexism, and aging bodies. Many more to come, I hope!

What a perfect follow up to Killers of a Certain Age!

The four main characters are just as lovable in this book, and the banter and dynamics between them all had me laughing and getting sentimental the whole way through. I love having a strong and smart leading lady character, and the only thing better than that is having four of them. I love that this series touches on sexism and ageism, and how it shows that women can be just as capable and cunning (and deadly) in their 60s as they are in their 20s. The loyalty and love between these four women was my favorite thing about these books.

The side characters added a lot to the plot, and I liked seeing the growth in them between the first book and this book. As for the mystery/action plot, I found it to be a little confusing at times while reading, but once I got to the end and saw how things tied together, it made more sense.

I really loved the first book in this series, and this sequel felt like a nice little bow to tie up this story.

P.S. While I do think this could technically be read as a stand-alone, I think it’d be best to read them in order so you can understand everything better.

I really loved Killers of a Certain Age so I was so excited to get this title early. I loved revisiting this band of badass women on their next adventure in this well thought out and action filled book. It was chalked full of great humor, mystery and a lot of action. One thing I noticed in this one was there seemed to be a lot more smaller details in terms of works of art, locations, and characters who were ultimately very detailed with little to know significance, it became overwhelming for me to follow and ultimately made me enjoy it less. It was still a fun read and one I will recommend to others but at time I felt like I needed my own notebook or cheat sheet because by the time the big reveal came along, I wasn’t even sure who or what was happening which made it loose some of its edge for me and became a bit frustrating to follow.

Overall I gave it 3.5 for this reason since it is very well written, entertaining and fun to read which are all great qualities in a book