Yes! Samantha Downing has done it again! I could not stop reading this story and despite the topic I was rooting for Lottie! I love that she is a faithful church goer and yet she finds herself righting the wrongs of her world in the most primal of ways-by ending them. She wants to be retired and put her days of mayhem behind her but people are just awful and when a journalist turns up at her door and wants to dig up her past, what choice does she have but to fix the problem before it can go any further. However soon that problem turns into another that she didn’t see coming and her life spins wildly out of control and this may just be what finally gets her caught.
Lottie is odd and has some weird predilections. I know what you’re thinking-well duh! She’s a 75 year old serial killer but she is also a loving mom and grandma and a sweet friend and that side of her made me cheer for her to come out on top as she was contemplating which way to take someone out. Not many authors can create a character like that. Morally gray are really hit or miss for me and usually more miss because most of them are less like able but there was balance to Lottie that I think, at her base, we can all somewhat relate to. I haven’t read anything like this before and I can’t recommend it enough.
Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review

𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬
𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰
𝟓⭐️

I’m 100% a devoted fan of author @smariedowning, her books are always fire, twisted, unpredictable, but always realistic. She knows damn well how to write a true thriller and I’m never disappointed.

𝐓𝐨𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 was definitely one of my most anticipated reads for this year and of course I was overly pleased. This was a unique thriller as our main character is an elderly woman with a taste for murder, yes I said elderly😂. I found this character choice so fun and entertaining, it was a unique choice but it worked so well.

Our main character Lottie is aging quickly and she has begun to accept that she is slowing down physically and mentally. She hasn’t killed in many years, however when a certain someone shows up at her door asking questions regarding Lottie’s past, it all goes spiraling from there and she is reminded of how much she truly enjoys killing.

This was a hilarious yet suspenseful thriller, with a likeable main character who you just can’t help but love- I was cheering her on the whole time! Both past and present stories were intriguing and the ending was perfect.

Thank you @berkleypub @netgalley for the early copy. This book is available now, full synopsis in comments below.✨.

#samanthadowning#toooldforthis
#bookreviews#bookstagram
#berkleypublishing#netgalley
#bookrecommendations

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️

Too Old For This is darkly hilarious and totally twisted. Lottie may seem like your average, sweet grandma if your idea of a grandma involves Bingo and potlucks with a side of body disposal. While I did enjoy this one and its unique storyline I do think the twists fell a little flat.

**Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the eARC of this title!!**

I ended up listening to this one on audio and it was KILLER. I adored the FMC in this one despite her…. eccentricities. I will be updating this review to add links once I get a review posted on IG and GR!

This was such a binge worthy book. It was filled with secrets and twists. The writing was excellent and the characters were very well developed and interesting . I always enjoy books by this author- she never fails to impress me with her endings! I would absolutely recommend this fun and twist filled book to other readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the ARC.

Lottie is comfortable with her friends and routines when a journalist comes around to dig up Lottie's past accusations of murder. Rather than deal with the potential fallout of a documentary exposing her serial killer ways, Lottie kills the reporter instead. Lottie does her best to clean up her messes but everything snowballs into a bigger issue. This sets off a somewhat zany chain of events that start to involve her friends and family and Lottie has to figure out if she can clear any suspicions and take back her comfortable life. Overall, a fun, if somewhat predictable suspense. Fans of Jonas Jonasson, Benjamin Stevenson, and Sue Hincenbergs will enjoy this one.

Definitely enjoyed this book thoroughly, I love me a good murder/thriller! When 75yr old Lottie gets a knock on her door, her past starts to quickly unravel. She ends up giving into her old ways, but it was completely necessary, to protect herself obviously! Her quickness, her personality, how she definitely gives everyone something to think about is phenomenal.

I absolutely loved Too Old For This by Samantha Downing, and the title and cover could have sold me, but the story inside was top-notch. It takes off and there isn’t a moment wasted on regret or hesitation. I can’t divulge the plot without giving too much away, but if you need a who-done-it in a fun read, this is your book. I look forward to more from Ms. Downing.

Oh my goodness I loved this book! The main character was amazing and it was non stop action and entertainment. I would definitely recommend this novel. Thank you netgalley for my free review copy.

This book flips the cozy crime trope on its head by giving us an elderly woman who isn’t solving murders—she’s committing them. Lottie Jones is darkly witty and sharp, making the story both chilling and wildly entertaining. Fresh, unique, and deliciously twisted, it’s a must-read for fans of thrillers with a clever edge.

Lottie is a character I won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Too Old For This follows Lottie Jones—a retired, church-going grandmother whose rather unconventional hobby happens to be murder.

I was completely invested, not just in Lottie, but in the story as a whole. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for a murderer more.

I’m giving it 4 stars overall, mainly because there were moments where I wished the plot felt a bit more believable. That said, it’s a fast-paced, darkly fun read with plenty of murdery goodness.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Samantha Downing for this eARC.

I have two separate feelings about this book. One was that it was a lot of fun, and one was that it made me a little uncomfortable.

The fun part is easy. It’s kind of a crazy premise, and of course that hooked me (an old lady serial killer trying to retire but getting dragged into a sticky situation). I was super invested. It was a bit over the top and ridiculous but in a good way. I couldn’t put it down.

But it’s not that easy to read a book where the main character is a serial killer. Obviously I’m not one to condone that kind of lifestyle (lol), and I chose not to take the book too seriously, so I still enjoyed reading it. But it was a weird place to be, where subconsciously I was kind of rooting for her (because she’s the main character, and likeable, despite her murderous inclinations), when my logical mind wanted her to fail.

Part of what I think could’ve been done better is to make her character more realistic. She was just a decent old lady who likes to kill people. That just… doesn’t happen. No real motive (at least for her earlier crimes), no obvious darkness or major trauma in her life. Just a normal lady. If she had been written more realistically, it would have been easier to not find myself liking her. Normalizing serial killers in this completely unrealistic way (because normal well-adjusted ones don’t exist in real life) feels wrong.

But like I said, I chose not to take it too seriously, and so it was still an enjoyable book. Most thriller/horror readers will probably enjoy it too. But if you’re a more sensitive reader when it comes to that stuff, it’s probably better to steer clear.

This is why Samantha Downing is one of my favorite thriller authors 🙌🏻

So unique and never boring. Had me guessing the whole time. Highly recommend!

Lottie-while I’d never want to meet you in real life, I sure do think you are the coolest geriatric main character I have ever read.

An old lady serial killer? Sold. I immediately requested this one on NetGalley. This was my first book by Samantha Downing; now I’m excited to read more of her books. I really enjoyed this one!

Lottie has put her crime life aside, she barely scraped away from several murder convictions decades earlier by the skin of her teeth. She is living a quiet death, up until there is a knock on her door. A girl by the name of Plum wants to make a docuseries about Lottie’s accused crimes decades before. That’s just not something Lottie wants to participate in… so she takes matters into her own hands. Things spiral from there and Lottie finds herself entangled in a web of murder.

The plot immediately grabbed my attention and kept it. I loved the chaos that Lottie put herself in the middle of. Everything goes wrong and I was enjoying the ride. Lottie was unhinged and I loved her as a character. Some of the side plots made me a tad uninterested, but overall I enjoyed this book. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys thrillers or unhinged female characters.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Too Old for This was the perfect blend of humor and suspense! Grandma Lottie had me second-guessing everything, and I couldn’t get enough of her sharp wit. The story follows retired serial killer Lottie Jones as she crosses paths with investigative journalist Plum Dixon, and let’s just say, sparks fly in more ways than one... Lol

I loved everything about this book. The characters were so well developed, and there truly wasn’t a dull moment from start to finish.

Huge thank you to @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thank you @smariedowning for crafting such a delightful read!

#toooldforthis #toooldforthisbook #samanthadowning #netgalley #bookreviews #bookreviewer #deadtiredandreading

// 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 //

Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Goodreads: 3.99
Genre: 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕
🐭 Cat & Mouse
🔪 Female Serial Killer
👵🏻 Geriatric MC
🖤 Dark Humor
⭐️ Golden Girls Meets Dexter

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝑨𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕
A retired serial killer's quiet, suburban life is threatened by a true-crime podcaster, forcing her to return to her murderous ways.

𝑺𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
• I’m a sucker for geriatric characters and serial killer thrillers - so when this book boasted both in one novel, I knew I had to read it!

• Filled with dark humor, but also touches on some delicate points about aging. Lottie has her limits, but also is realistic about her retirement. Yet she is stubborn about her informative independence.

• Everytime Lottie thought she had one problem resolved, another cropped up! At some point she had so many balls juggling in the air, even I wasn’t sure she wouldn’t get caught!

• This one makes for a good pallet cleanser thriller - it’s got a little humor, you may have to suspend a little disbelief - but it still gives the suspense and twists you are looking for.

Thank you @berkleypub for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Too Old for This is a darkly funny, sharp, and utterly addictive thriller that proves age is no match for secrets—or murder. Lottie Jones is a fantastic protagonist: witty, unapologetic, and delightfully cunning, she brings a refreshing twist to the crime genre. Her small-town cover life of bingo nights and gossip circles collides perfectly with the chilling past she’s trying to keep buried, making every chapter bristle with tension.

Thank you so much @BerkleyPub for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 12 August 2025)

SYNOPSIS | Lottie has gotten away with murder... well multiple murders to be precise. Now she is in her mid-seventies and enjoying her quieter life in retirement from being a serial killer until a persistent investigative reporter shows up on her doorstep asking a lot of unwanted questions.

WHAT I LIKED:
- Lottie's character was everything! she was sharp, sly, witty and had me rooting for her from our first interaction
- she truly is diabolical but you just can't help but be charmed by her
- Lottie's exasperation due to the complications of coming out of retirement had me cackling
- such a FUN bingeable thriller
- I could easily read an entire series on her antics

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- felt a little too similar to For Your Own Good

This was such a great book! I would recommend this for those who enjoy a cozy esque thriller with a kick! I found myself conflicted on who to route for, but this book held my full attention to the very last sentence. You will get the cozy feels delivered when friends gather over tea and desserts and the thrill ride when the main character is wielding a hammer. Love this and thank you NetGalley for sharing this ARC.

This was a fun time! We're following Lottie who is a "retired" serial killer. Lottie was accused of some murders decades earlier but there was no evidence against her, and she was never arrested. Her name however was all over the media and she had to take her son and leave town. Now her son is a grown man with kids of his own, and she is old and just trying to live out a quiet life by going to church and having regular Bingo nights with friends. An investigative reporter unexpectedly shows up and starts asking questions about her past. She is making a docuseries about people who are wrongfully accused of crimes and wants Lottie to be in the film. Lottie wants no part of it and will do anything to keep her name out of the public and her secrets buried. Unfortunately, getting rid of one problem brings on another and then another and things start to snowball. Also, someone from Lottie's past still thinks she is guilty and isn't giving up on taking her down.

I loved the cat and mouse story and thoroughly enjoyed the dark humor along the way. It was such a fun time hanging out inside Lottie's head. She is a witty spitfire. Don't piss her off. 😆

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #TooOldforThis #NetGalley