Thank you to the author/publisher for the ARC. This is one that I've been waiting for to come out and I finally got to read it! It hooked me from the beginning and all the way thru. My only feedback is the ending was a bit abrupt so I'm hoping for maybe another book!

This book was so good ! It was such a great concept. The characters (Lottie especially) were so so funny and I loved the storyline as well. I also liked the ending, having the “villain” win.

This was such a good concept and so intriguing of a book.

Whoa Samantha Downing is back with a real banger! I am not kidding when I tell you I was HOOKED and on the edge of my seat until the very end! I didn’t know it was possible to love a serial killer but Lottie was just the perfect amount of sassy, smart and creative and I was rooting for her the whole way. Samantha writes the best female characters and Lottie is definitely in the running for my favorite.

I read a lot of thrillers but the thought of a 70 year old serial killers truly made my skin crawl. The amount of gore and true WTF moments was high and I found myself gasping at the details many times. Bravo, bravo, BRAVO!

WOW!! My new favorite book of 2025! This is probably one of the best books I have read all year. This book is super unique and as a thriller girlie I have never seen anything like it. The character of 75-year-old serial killer Lottie is developed so well. yes, you heard that 75-year-old on a killing spree. This book has SO many twists and turns it will have you constantly wanting to pick up this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have read most of Samantha Downing's novels and I have loved all of them but this one is by far my favorite. It was such a unique idea and I devoured it as many of Lottie's victims enjoyed tea and cookies. Lottie was an interesting character and if Downing chose to write a sequel, I would definitely be reading that one too!

Lottie is retired and lives alone. Her only social interactions are at church on Sundays and bingo on Thursdays. Her life is pretty simple and thinking her past would stay buried. Until Plum Dixon shows up at her door asking questions about Lottie's past, and that is just out of the question. To keep herself safe she does what she knows best how to get away with murder but it turns out it isn't quite as simple as it was when she was younger and then another person shows up and she now understands this may be more difficult than she had originally thought.

Dark, witty, fast-paced!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On the outside, Lottie Jones is a sweet seventy-something Grandma who frequents Sunday service and weekly bingo night with her church gal pals.
Between preparing pot lucks and keeping tabs on her son and grandkids, Lottie finds herself in quite the predicament when a young journalist shows up on her doorstep propositioning a docuseries about a dark past that Lottie has worked so hard to keep under wraps .

Despite her age, physical ailments, and the ongoing challenge to keep up with modern technology, this geriatric gem’s still got it. Her past will stay buried with anyone else who attempts to dig it up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

*Too Old for This* by Samantha Downing is a gripping, twisty ride with sharp writing and dark humor that kept me hooked from start to (almost) finish. The pacing and characters were spot-on, but the ending didn’t quite land for me—just enough to knock off a star. Still a great read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy.

Wow, I couldn’t put this down. Such a creative plot idea and I absolutely love Samantha Downing’s writing.
5 ⭐️
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy of this.

Lottie Jones, 75 years young, retired serial killer, and bingo enthusiast, is living a quiet, cozy life in her small town under a new identity. But that quiet life shatters when investigative journalist Plum Dixon knocks on her door, working on a docu-series about unsolved crimes tied to Lottie’s past. Faced with the threat of exposure, Lottie realizes there's only one way to protect her anonymity... another murder. This was a fun thriller that I binged in a single day—short, sharp chapters, high stakes, and enough dark comedy to keep me hooked. Lottie is a delightfully twisted protagonist: as you root for her elderly, bingo-loving exterior, you’re also cringing at her return to murder. It's a weirdly appealing combo of granny-next-door meets serial killer—and that contrast is where the magic lies.

Rating: ★★★½

What a premise! A 70ish-year-old church-going granny and bingo enthusiast who just happens to be a retired serial killer? I was immediately hooked and couldn’t wait to dive in, especially after recently reading Wicked Fun, which had similar darkly quirky vibes. While this was a fun and unique ride, it didn’t quite hit the high bar I had set for it.

Lottie Jones is doing her best to leave her deadly past behind, settling into a quieter life filled with potlucks, judgmental bingo ladies, and internal monologues about aging. She’s embraced her inner “I’m getting too old for this” Captain Murtaugh… until a nosey journalist threatens to expose her secret, pulling her back into a world she thought she’d left behind.

The story was snarky, darkly funny, and lightly suspenseful. It had plenty of charm, and I loved the idea of an older protagonist flipping expectations on their head. I especially appreciated how the book portrayed how often people underestimate Lottie simply because of her age—something that becomes a strength in her line of... work. That said, the energy and pacing didn’t always keep up. Despite being a quick read, it sometimes lacked momentum, and I found myself wishing for more development in certain plot points and twists that never fully materialized.

My biggest gripe? Lottie spends a lot of time reflecting on her physical decline. While some realism is appreciated—yes, she has aches and pains and limitations—I would’ve loved to see a version of Lottie more in the spirit of Sigourney Weaver: aging but sharp, resilient, and not perpetually teetering on the edge of death. It occasionally dulled the excitement when I really wanted to root for her badassery. Yes, even at 70!

The ending? A little over-the-top for me, but I can appreciate the bold choices. Ultimately, this was an enjoyable and clever read, even if it didn’t blow me away the way I hoped. I think this is one of those cases where too many glowing reviews raised my expectations a little too high. Also, I think reading Wicked Fun beforehand overshadowed my review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

Wow. Wow. Wow! I don't know when I've enjoyed reading a book as much as I loved Too Old For This. Please tell me this is the start of a series! Since Lottie is elderly and needs a hip replacement, maybe readers will settle for a trilogy? Too Old For This is a laugh-out-loud thriller featuring a seventy-five-year-old serial killer church lady. Yes, quite the oxymoron. We fall in love with Lottie Jones and root for her, though a little voice in our heads says we shouldn't, and we pray she doesn't get caught.

Author Samantha Downing makes murder FUN in this highly recommended novel with her stellar writing and Lottie's distinctive, amazing voice. The story pacing is propulsive, the characters memorable, and that voice I mentioned the key to Lottie's lovability. But make no mistake, despite the laughs, Lottie is as cold blooded as an alligator when she's angry. Get her mad, and you might end up in her freezer before Thursday night's bingo game.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance copy of the book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews.com at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

I really enjoyed this book - it's what happens when an elderly serial killer gets herself caught up in a new killing spree. Her past was the beginning of her murderess impulses, where she almost got caught. After being tried in the court of public opinion, she was found not guilty. Out running this past was not easy but she was able to start a new life for herself and her son under new names. Unfortunately, not everyone can let go of the past so when a docuseries producer shows up at her door in hopes of getting an interview, then says it's going to be made with or without her participation, she snaps. Leading down a long path into her past mixing with her present.

Spoilers:
The ending was definitely fun but a part of me thinks it would have been funny if she did get convicted and ended up in prison. It would be a free retirement home, low grade activities, 24/7 doctor, church groups and all her meals made for her. Her just killing the police officer who knew she always did it and then continuing on life seemed a little silly to me.

Always a big fan of Samantha Downing books!

In Too Old For This, Lorena Jones (“Lottie”) is a seasoned elderly female serial killer that escaped a prior close scrape with law enforcement, moved to a small town, and changed her name. Now deep into her golden years, she just wants to stop the hard work that is murder and retire for good in peace and quiet. But the past just won’t leave her alone and keeps literally knocking on her door.. forcing her into old habits.

The plot of this one was very creative and a lot different than the thrillers/suspense I normally read but still very much enjoyable! I breezed through this book and was hooked.

Thank you so much to Berkley, Samantha, and NetGalley for the e-galley!

This is an interesting thriller told from the pov of the actual killer. Those are usually rare but I always find that pov interesting. I didn’t find the main character very likesble but I still wanted to find out what would happen to her. She’s got this insane dual life - and going between that and chopped up fingers was something. Definitely one that will keep people on edge!

You guys, my blood pressure is so high after reading this book. This is a crazy story about a 74-year-old lady who is a serial killer. She got away with a bunch of murders back in the 80s, but then she changed her name After being found innocent and relocated. That’s where the story picks up.

Can I just tell you how anxious I was the entire time I was reading this book, I hate to admit this, but I had to go and read the last five chapters after chapter 50. I was so nervous I had to know what happened at the end and then went back and read the last fourth of the book.

If you like Freida McFadden, you will probably love this book. At no point are we wondering who the murderer is, I assure you that is not a spoiler. The body count is relatively high I would say, and while it isn’t extremely violent, it is violent in a more theoretical way. This is “is she going to get caught” anxiety.

This is like if Dexter was a little old lady.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC of this book. Book to be published August 12, 2025.

Too Old for This follows, Lottie, a retired serial killer who is living a seemly normal life of attending weekly bingo with her friends, until Plum Dixon shows up at her door. I was hooked from the first page and left wanting more of Lottie after finishing. She may have been the serial killer, but I was rooting for her the whole time. I loved the addition of dark humor, it was a perfect match for Lottie's character.

I'm struggling to feel invested in this character driven thriller. My current reading tastes crave a little more suspense and plot line, so for that reason I'm a DNF at 30%. Maybe I'll pick this up again in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for my gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and to give my review.

Wow, what a roller coaster ride this book is! I could not stop reading! This psychological thriller has a little bit of everything in it: suspense, unpredictability, gore, anticipation and even humor.

The story revolves around Lottie, a senior citizen of 75, who also happens to be a long retired serial killer. Lottie has been living her life, under a different name, in a different town, for decades. Things start to unravel when an unexpected visitor (in the form of an investigative journalist) shows up on Lottie’s doorstep, wanting to do a documentary about Lottie and her past. Lottie didn’t want to be found and she definitely doesn’t want her story told. That would ruin everything.

I really enjoyed this book and I really liked the character of Lottie. I’m hoping for a sequel or even a series, featuring Lottie Jones, everyone’s favorite grandma serial killer.

Lottie is in her 70s. She's a mother of one and grandmother to two, with one on the way. She's a retired bank employee and serial killer. But now she's back to work killing. It's insane. Lottie has had a lot of practice but she makes some mistakes with this new string of dead folks--which she attributes to her advanced age. This book is so crazy--these horrible acts of violence juxtaposed with real life aging issues (arthritis, living alone, cholesterol numbers, etc.) is so entertaining. This woman gets MAD and plots revenge. Don't say rude shit to people--you just never know what kind of skills they have. Downing's books are always a winner. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

This is my first book I’ve read by Samantha Downing and she did not disappoint. 4.5!

Lottie Jones is a retired serial killer thinking her past is decades behind her. Living a peculiar dream in a small town going to church Bingo weekly with unsuspecting friends she is suddenly faced with her past when a documentary filmmaker knocks at her door. Met with the harsh reality that her two worlds may quickly collide she is quickly brought out of retirement.

Tightly plotted, wickedly clever, and filled with moments of humor, this thriller keeps readers engaged and entertained.

Expected publication date: August 12, 2025.

I want to express my upmost gratitude to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy.