Thank you Net Galley for sharing this ARC with me. This is the story of Lottie Jones, a quiet mom and grandma who just wants to gossip with her friends, go to church, and live a quiet peaceful life. When a TV producer knocks on her door to ask to make a docuseries about her, the last thing she wants is to is relive her past. A past she tried really hard to keep quiet. So what does she do? She goes back to her old ways of fixing the problem. What she fails to realize is that she’s not spring chicken anymore and she may have bitten way more than she can chew. There were plenty of laugh out loud moments in this book. I truly enjoyed the banter between Lottie and her church friends, and I had a good cackle on how she dealt with annoying telemarketers.

A few things I couldn’t wrap my head around was how she did what she did with a bad hip? I love that the author didn’t shy away from reminding us that Lottie is no spring chicken anymore, but that also poses a few questions of how was she able to do all the things she did? I’m 45 and I need a nap after washing the dishes LOL!! There were some moments where Lottie’s inner monologue was drawn out. I did enjoy reading about her past, and how she became a serial killer. Very cool! The plot twist was good, but based on the build up, I was looking for that OMG JAW DROPPING GASP moment.

All in all, this was a quick and easy read. If you are looking for a story that you can consume in 24 hours, or a little palette cleanser because you are in a reading slump, this book will get in a good head space. 3.5⭐️.

My first ARC!! thank you Net Galley

I really enjoyed this story of 'retired' serial killer, Lottie Jones. It was a good mystery but some of Lottie's observations made me laugh out loud. And even though she was technically the bad guy, I was rooting for Lottie. This was an entertaining and interesting take on a serial killer and a book you won't want to put down. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

As the title states, Lottie Jones has simply been trying to leave her past behind and embrace her inner Captain Murtaugh. She realizes she’s getting too old for this shit and is prepared that the most exciting thing in her life might be facing judgment about her snack offerings at the local BINGO hall. That is, until a nosey rosey journalist shows up declaring she knows who Lottie REALLY is and Lottie has to come out of retirement . . . .

I am an OG Samantha Downing superfan, so take my opinion with several grains of salt because I am 100% biased. She’s freaking fantastic. All of her books have been winners for me and she’s one of the rare few authors I follow on The ‘Gram because I HAVE A MIGHTY NEEEEEEEED when it comes to knowing when/what she’s coming up with next. If you like the stabbies, she’s the most fun.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

absolutely brilliant!! I fell in love with Samantha's writing after listening to My Lovely Wife and was super excited to get approval for reviewing her latest book! Huge thanks to her and Netgalley for the approval. This is my honest review. I loved it! Lottie is witty and very colourful, and she just wants to live out her old age days in peace, in a town far away from her past with Thursday Bingo and Sunday Mass.... until that 'awful' knock on her door and everything changed! And she had to FIX IT! Get it all straightened out for her sake and her son's sake. The storyline was brilliant, and the characters were nicely fleshed out. I was right there with Lottie, experiencing and feeling everything she went through. This is a story I recommend to anyone seeking something unique to read this summer. It's light and heavy at the same time! Publication August 12, 2025

This was a wild ride and such a fun time. This reminded me of Joe Goldberg, but if he was an old woman. Lottie was crazy and I never knew what she was going to do next. This was so entertaining and made me appreciate Samantha Downing as an author. I just wish it wasn't as drawn out and the ending kind of let me down, but I still really liked it.

Thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for the copies to review.

Oh heck yes, I loved this one! Lottie was a hoot, and I was so sad when this book was over. So many times I laughed out loud, and I have to give credit to Elizabeth Wiley for really bringing Lottie to life with her narration as this was such a joy to listen to! Lottie Jones is a retired serial killer who finds herself in a sitch, and it just keeps spiraling from there. But she has the best attitude about it, handles aging as best she can, and is absolutely hysterical. The early hype for this one is real. Do not sleep on this one when it comes out on August 12th. I am a huge fan of Samantha Downing and I think this is her best yet!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4⭐️
TOO OLD FOR THIS
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 400 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🔨🩸😱👵🏼🚔🕵🏻‍♀️👀🦯🤍📱📍🎥
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 8/12/2025

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ single POV
◽️ sassy, older villains
◽️ comic relief

🩵𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲🩵

Thank you @berkleypub @prhaudio @netgalley for the #gifted copy!

What an opening chapter—this one hooked me right away! The story is unique in that we’re inside the mind of the killer, Lottie, from the very beginning. Despite her being a serial killer, I couldn’t help but find her incredibly entertaining. To those around her, she’s just a sweet elderly woman—but to us readers, she’s delightfully unhinged 😅. The comic relief was unexpected but so well done, making Lottie’s twisted charm impossible to resist.

I think you’ll enjoy your reading experience even more if you go into this book knowing it leans more toward dark comedy than straight thriller. While the plot is a bit far-fetched, it’s all part of the fun. I laughed out loud more than once at Lottie’s antics, & her age only added to the quirky charm of the story. Though there are a few flashbacks, most of the narrative takes place in the present day. I had a lot of fun with this one & my #buddyread with @read_renew_repeat & @booksandcarryons made it even better!!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Lottie Jones has spent decades hiding from her dark past, living a quiet life in a small town. Her biggest thrills now come from bingo nights & harmless gossip with friends. But when a nosy journalist named Plum starts digging into old, unsolved crimes, Lottie’s secrets risk exposure. She’s dealt with trouble before—but getting away with murder isn’t as easy when you’re older.
& the latest knock at her door may be one she doesn’t walk away from.

I enjoyed Samatha Downing's book HE STARTED THIS years ago, and I was very excited to have the opportunity to read TOO OLD FOR THIS via NetGalley. The strong point of this latest work are the speed with which the 75-year-old protagonist revives her life of serial killing.. I was not sure what I thought about this book as I read chapter one, but the last three sentences definitely grabbed my attention. What followed as Lottie picks back up where she left off is sure to please those readers whose favorite genre is thriller. However, this book is not for me, and I did not finish it. I think the author is a good writer, and I respect the work that goes into writing a book. Rather than share a review with a mediocre rating, I would prefer to not post on social media about this book.

If you like a bit of comedy with your murders you will definitely enjoy this book. I don’t know it’s something about a 70 year old serial killer that you really can’t take to seriously. Definitely a book you will want to keep reading. Between the murders, her family and her friends from church this book will keep you entertained. A bit far fetched but funny all the same.

Lottie Jones Is a retired serial killer that has changed her identity, and moved to a small town to hide herself away and live her new life where she just plays bingo at the church and gossips with friends. But when Plum Dixon, an investigative journalist, shows up on her doorstep fishing for answers, Lottie cannot have that. It's been a long time since her days of crime, but she may need to take matters into her own hands again.

This was a fast paced, entertaining thriller. I really loved it. I thought it was fun having a book told from the killers POV. There is witty, dark humor, suspense and twists.Was it a bit crazy sometimes, YES, but that's what made it so fun. Definitely my kind of thriller.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed TOO OLD FOR THIS. A 70 year old serial killer coming out of retirement was unique. It's fast paced and filled with some shocking moments. I couldn't put it down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my gifted copy!

I dont know how to put this into words. But I just did not buy this storyline. I know I know, when you are reading fiction you should suspend your disbelief. But, I just could not fathom this woman getting away with the stuff that she did and that really took me out of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for a free Ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this one. The dry, dark humor and the way the character was developed were on point. There are few books from a killers point of view that are this well done. Definitely a must read.

Everything was happening so fast, I could barely keep up — but in the best way. I felt completely pulled into it, like I wasn’t just reading, I was inside it, watching everything fall apart or explode or twist in ways I couldn’t predict. There were moments that were so wild I actually stopped and thought, wait, no way, but somehow it still worked. It didn’t lose me. It made me want more.

The chaos made sense. I wasn’t confused — just breathless. I loved that I couldn’t relax for even a page. Something was always about to happen, and I wanted to see how far it would go. I didn’t expect to enjoy it this much, but I did. The way it played with tension, the way the characters made decisions I didn’t see coming — it all kept me right on the edge the whole time. I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you Berkley Pub & PRHAudio for my gifted copies. 💜

At 75, Lottie Jones lives a quiet life in small-town Oregon, filling her time with bingo, church, and potlucks. But decades ago, she was Lorena Lansdale, a woman suspected (but never convicted) of being a serial killer. When Plum Dixon, a true-crime producer, starts digging into her past, Lottie has to decide how far she’ll go to keep her secrets buried. Is it time for this elderly serial killer to come out of retirement?

I REALLY enjoyed this one! I was instantly hooked by the clever premise and engaging tone. It's a little campy, but in the best way—never over the top or cheesy. The pacing was spot on, and I binged it in just a few days. Talk about unputdownable! I switched to the audiobook halfway through, and narrator Elizabeth Wiley's smooth, mature voice nailed the vibe. Perfection!!🙌🏼

I loved both formats equally. If you’re in the mood for something dark, witty, and refreshingly original, Too Old For This is an absolute must read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This book was a wild ride dog! I loved Lottie. There’s something so refreshing about a serial killer who’s embracing her golden years and still slaying (literally). Lottie’s sass and seasoned perspective made the whole story feel delightfully twisted and unexpectedly heartwarming. Lottie is a badass, and she deserved her happy ending.

Kind of funny (or morbid? why am I like this) of me as I read through this, visualizing an elderly, slow-walking, cane-wielding (when she wants to) older lady with arthritis death blowing and cleaning up the mess like she's doing her weekly kitchen wipe down! Kind of has you wondering about your grandma and her past life, yeah?

I almost felt bad for Lottie as the story went on because of the domino effect of that whole situation, and she had to do what she had to do, but she was exhausted by it all LOL

The ending felt a bit underwhelming, but I'd still recommend this story.

This was a page-turner and kept me wondering what was going to happen next the whole time!

Thank you Netgalley, Publisher, and Author for gifting me a copy of this book.

𝙏𝙤𝙤 𝙊𝙡𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 hooked me right from the concept! I mean, a 75-year-old retired serial killer living her best bingo-and-potluck life until a nosy reporter starts sniffing around? Sign me up!

Meet Lottie Jones. She’s spent decades quietly blending into her small community, all while tucking away a past that’s… let’s just say, not exactly squeaky clean. Now she’s older, supposedly wiser, and totally content to leave her murdery days behind. Or so she thinks. Enter Plum Dixon, a determined young journalist with a knack for digging where she shouldn’t. And once Plum starts connecting dots that everyone else missed, Lottie has to make a choice: sit quietly and hope her past stays buried, or dust off those old, ahem, skills.

I absolutely loved how Samantha Downing made Lottie such a blast to follow. She’s funny, sharp, totally self-aware, and her commentary on ageing is pure gold. It’s not often you get to root for a grandma who’s contemplating murder again, and somehow, you’re completely on her side.

Is it wildly realistic? Absolutely not! But that’s what makes it so much fun. The author leans into the absurdity in the best way, giving us a darkly comedic thriller that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still delivering twists and suspense.

Too Old for This is a little wicked, a lot witty, and completely addictive!


Thank you, @berkley and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Downing has done it again! Too Old for This is a darkly clever and wildly entertaining thriller with one of the most unique protagonists I’ve ever read. Lottie Jones, a retired serial killer turned bingo loving church lady, is a character I didn’t know I needed, and I was hooked from page one!

The story perfectly blends suspense, humor, and tension, as Lottie’s quiet life is upended by the nosy and persistent journalist Plum Dixon. The plot is fast paced with plenty of twists, and I loved the contrast between Lottie’s ordinary small town life and the sinister secrets buried in her past.

If you like thrillers with morally gray characters, smart writing, and a bit of dark comedy, don’t miss this one. I flew through it and didn’t want it to end.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC!