Don't you just love a book where you end up rooting for a serial killer? What could be more darkly humorous than a grandmother and a retired serial killer trying her best to lay low, but sometimes murder just happens?

I'm a huge fan of morally gray characters, and Lottie is fantastic! She was ultimately so likable despite the constant crime scene cleanup, and really, can you blame her? It's the height of rudeness to show up unannounced at someone's home. I loved that she clearly had some age-related infirmities, but she didn't let that hold her back from doing the things, mostly murder, that she was good at, and her mind was as sharp as ever.

If you are a thriller enthusiast with a penchant for dark humor and enjoy characters whose morality is open to interpretation, then Too Old For This might be the book for you!

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lottie is a retired serial killer or so she’d like to think. When an investigative journalist shows up wanting to make a tv show about Lottie’s past, things really start to unravel. This book had me anxious the entire time, but it also felt slow. How does make sense? I was never bored, but books like this make it really hard for me to suspend my disbelief. It was a wild ride all while going along with Lottie’s regular daily activities.

My favorite Samantha Downing is still For Your Own Good.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of this eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lottie is getting old, she was really hoping to live out her years in quiet peace until her past came back to haunt her. Her peaceful life was interrupted when Plum, an investigative journalist comes knocking at her door and asking her to be part of her documentary on unsolved murders. Now Lottie had to put her retired skills to use again in order to remain living in anonymity and being able to make her bingo game.

I really enjoyed the premise and the writing, loved the humor and lightheartedness that is juxtaposed in a book about a serial killer. The characters were great, there was a hint of snark throughout the novel that I really enjoyed and I thought the plot was clever, that being said, there were a few times where I felt the book got slow. The audiobook narrator was perfect for this and I loved listening while folding laundry (if you have to choose one go with the audiobook). I will definitely read another by the author because the writing style and creativity was there.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC to review

Thank you NetGalley for the free E-book in exchange for my honest review.

This is probably my favourite thriller of the year. The idea of a 75-year old serial killer coming out of retirement is so hilarious but it was so well-written. Fast paced and kept me engaged the entire time. Loved every second of this book! I’m definitely going to go check out the rest of Downing’s books now!!

#IndigoEmployee

Such a clever and dark comedy. “Lottie” is 70 something year old retired serial killer. An unexpected knock on her door starts off an unfortunate series of events that keep the pages turning . The writing style helps keeps the story moving and keeps you guessing right up into the end !

This was a cute, fast read. It was perfect for my flight and would be a good beach read. A senior citizen spends her time cooking for the weekly church bingo games and also kills people that tick her off. The coach is mean to her son? Someone is rude at the grocery store? She has a hammer or tire iron or something similar and bashes their head in. When a young journalist comes to her home to try and convince her to tell her story, that of someone wrongly accused of murder, she kills that woman and the book is about the fallout when the journalist’s mom tries to find out where her daughter has gone.

Full of wit, dark humor, and bloody good times! 🩸

One look at this cover and I knew this was going on my TBR. Let me tell you it didn't disappoint! 🖤I love a cunning female lead and Lotte had it covered! Have I ever thought about the retired life of a serial killer? Well, no, but that was a huge draw because it's a unique premise.
🔨🔪
Lotte is living a fulfilling quiet retired life. She goes to bingo, has a few good friends, a son who keeps in touch, and a huge house she lives in alone. Until a knock at the door threatens to shine a light into her dark past. Lotte will welcome you in with an offer of tea, cookies and a friendly ear. Careful what you say though... Despite her age this septuagenarian knows her way around blunt objects and has a handy system that makes clean up a snap. So, what will it be earl grey, peppermint, or chamomile? 🍪🫖

I enjoyed seeing how Lotte went about troubleshooting her weaknesses. She's aware of her age and the challenges it presents but she finds ways around that and handles herself in a brilliant manner. The smooth writing style pulled me right keeping me engaged, ready to see who would come to call at Lotte's house next. Her quips made me burst out laughing a few times. 🤣 The dark humor hits all the right notes. The threads were intelligent with intriguing connections.

<i>Too Old for This</i> was my ideal cup of tea. ☕
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Berkley for providing an ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book! This is the type of story that grabs you from page one and refuses to let go. The writing style was sharp and engaging making the pages fly by. It was honestly impossible to put down.

The FMC was so compelling and fun I found myself fully invested in her story - she was smart, complex, and refreshingly unapologetic….and of course completely unhinged. I loved watching her navigate the twists and chaos with such boldness. Every chapter had me hooked, wondering what she was going to do next.

Lottie Jones, you are one impressive and diabolical lady. How many of you are out there in the wild now?!

Lottie’s quite a complex character. She’s very cunning, tolerant, a devoted mother, grandmother, in-law, a loyal friend, and a homicidal maniac… err a serial killer if we’re being technical about it.

Too Old For This was all about juxtaposition. It tells us Lottie’s life as an average churchgoing senior, attending weekly Bingo with her friends, and having a passive aggressive feud with one of the ladies over her spinach dip. Side by side with that is Lottie’s psychopathy. Her precision in getting away with murder, and manipulating everyone around her.

I started to question myself early on because I found myself rooting for her. Am I becoming morally ambiguous? Am I reading too much in this genre and getting desensitized because why am I on the serial killer’s side? She’s not even a vigilante! She’s someone with rage issues and would kill at the slightest inconvenience, yet I didn’t want her to get caught, I want all those people off her back, and just let her retire in peace! There were moments where Lottie’s overthinking and making mistakes, resulting to unnecessary scenes and confrontation. Oh well, there won’t be a story if everything is logical, right?

Anyway, if you’re eyeing this, don’t skip on it. Preorder now or get in your library’s queue, it’s a worthwhile story to get lost in for a few hours.

Hahahaha my god this was fun! I had the BEST time reading this book, and despite her dead body count, was really rooting for Lorena 😂. She was so endearing in the most crotchety, and dangerous, way 😂. She was a hoot!
Downing has written an absolutely stellar, original plot here and I can’t express how much fun it was to read. I couldn’t put it down.
Murder fans!! This one’s for you. Prepare yourself to laugh your butt off, gasp loudly, and cheer for an elderly serial killer like you’ve never cheered for someone before 😂

This book was pure gold! I’m obsessed with Samantha Downing’s writing so I was so excited to get my hands on an early copy of Too Old For This!

Lottie is a 75 year old church member, bingo enthusiast and retired serial killer that you cannot help but root for. She’s unhinged but also…lovable? and hilarious. The story follows our murdery grandma who is suddenly forced out of retirement and I’ll leave it at that! Dark humor is my therapy and this book gets me. The story was unique, engaging, fun, and sinister. I can’t recommend this enough! Lottie is officially my fifth Golden Girl 💅

4.5 stars

Too Old For This was a captivating read as were my previous reads by Samantha Downing. She writes about morally grey characters with unpredictable plots.

Lottie Jones she is more than a flawed protagonist, she is calculated, complex and oddly compelling. I was never quite was sure if I should root for her or not. Her motivations were rooted in the past, which the author wove seamlessly into the present day narrative. She is also elder, plays weekly bingo with her church friends and looking at places to live out her final years. A retired serial killer you say...a very interesting story.

Too Old For This is a story of unfinished business, buried secrets and the deadly consequences of not letting the past stay in the past. There was lots of tension and, of course, twists...many surprises along the way. Yes a few parts might have felt over the top but Downing makes it work without realizing how implausible some things might sound. All in all this was a binge-worthy read that keep me reading just one more chapter (pun intended).

My thanks to Berkley Publishing for a digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Samantha Downing is at it again with this wickedly fun and darkly comedic thriller. Lottie, a retired serial killer just trying to enjoy her golden years. When an annoying investigative journalist comes knocking, Lottie is forced back into the game.

It was such a unique and fun read! Lottie is an entertaining character, balancing her mundane routine of bingo nights and church potlucks with her chilling past. The pacing was perfect and the dark humor was on point. I loved every minute of it!

i thought this story was very witty and a fun ride! the killing spree was surprisingly entertaining even though it was dark it never felt too heavy. lottie’s sass and no-nonsense attitude kept me hooked, and i appreciated how the story didn’t take itself too seriously. it gave just the right amount of chaos, cleverness, and dry humor.

🪓 Meet Lottie Jones: retired, seventy-five, and perfectly content with her quiet life… until a young filmmaker knocks on her door wanting to tell the story of her wrongful murder conviction.
The twist? Lottie is guilty—of those murders and more. One impulsive act to protect her secret sets off a chain of chaos, and suddenly the body count is climbing.

This darkly funny, macabre thriller kept me hooked. Samantha Downing makes you root for a serial killer grappling with aging, morality, and the messy consequences of her choices. Gruesome? Yes. Entertaining? Absolutely.

✨ Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC!
📖 #TooOldForThis by Samantha Downing
#DarkHumor #ThrillerReads #BookReview #NetGalleyARC

The Book:
Lottie is a retired serial killer ... But not for long.
After being "wrongfully accused" of murder, Lottie changed her identity and moved, setting up on a quiet street and becoming actively involved in a local church. She hasn't killed in years .... Until a young lady appears wanting to interview Lottie for her upcoming docuseries on the wrongfully accused. But Lottie does not want to appear in any docuseries and Lottie has to do what Lottie has to do and it sets off a string of events and Lottie discovers that it's even harder to get away with murder when you're old.

My Thoughts:
Such a great book. I was hooked right from the start and could not put this down. It's so interesting how you can be so invested in such a bad character. Lottie is a serial killer - she is the bad guy - but you're in her POV and you see all sides of her, and she's a bit funny and quirky, and so you're on her side. I equally wanted her to get caught and didn't want her to get caught.

This was so much fun! Samantha Downing has been hit or miss for me, but this was a definite win! Old lady serial killer is a niche genre I didn’t know I needed.

What a ridiculously funny and laugh out loud good time. I couldn’t get enough of this from start to finish. The crimes, though gruesome, somehow really have you rooting for our murderess and all while delivering and unbelievably witty and light heartenedness, playful tone.

Can’t wait to read more from the author!

2.5 stars rounded up

The main character Lottie is a little older than me. That drew me in. I enjoy older main characters. However, her complaints about her physical ailments did not fit with the way she moved dead bodies. I never came to care about Lottie. So the tension and suspense never really worked for me. The humor made me roll my eyes, not laugh out loud. It became easier to put the book down than pick it up. I am definitely an outlier on this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out strong but then got to be extremely repetitive with very little plot. If I could wrap up this book in one sentence it would be "an elderly woman kills people". I decided not to read this book all the way through because I didn't feel as if the story was reeling me in anymore and I felt more annoyed than intrigued by our main character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!