It kills me to write this, but Too Old for This was so bloody good! Seriously, Samantha Downing killed it with her tale of a retired serial killer who just wants to enjoy the later years of her life, going to church, playing bingo, and enjoying her quiet time. Sure, thoughts of killing annoying people in her life might creep into her mind, but she keeps them to herself....

Lottie thought her days of killing were behind her. She is a grandmother now and has Bingo to play. But when Plum Dixon, an investigative journalist, knocks on her door and begins to question her, Lottie knows that all those unsolved cases might come back to haunt her, and she can't have that!!!

Oh, how I enjoyed Lottie and her inner thoughts. She was a hoot, and I enjoyed reading about her moral compass on what is proper and what is not. She is not as young as she used to be and well, murder - let's just say it can be exhausting. But Lottie is not a quitter...

Samantha Downing has delivered another clever, gripping, shocking, fun, and thrilling page turner! I could not put this book down! I loved every second of it. Lottie is such a well-drawn character and Samantha Downing made me feel sorry for Lottie with her aches, pains, and struggles while doing what Lottie does best! Too Old for This reminded me of An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good which I also adored. Not in the storyline or plot, but with the aging female serial killer.

This book had a nice amount of tension, humor, wit, cat-and-mouse, and danger. Lottie is a bloody good killer, and some scenes may not be for everyone.

Addictive, clever, dark, and hard to put down!

This book is so funny and mysterious at the same time. The main character reminds you of a grandmother but has a dark and twisted vice. Too Old For This is one of those mysteries where the lies just keep building and you don’t know how it’s going to end. I did not see the ending coming at all. It was such a quick read that kept me thrilled throughout.

When a Samantha Downing arc comes on my kindle, I pause everything! I have read every single thing she has published and that will never change! This one was a little different than what we have read from her before and I loved that! It was fun and fresh and deliciously addictive. The main character, Lottie, is hilarious and unafraid to do whatever it takes to protect herself and her true identity. The dark humor that Samantha does like nobody else is spot on as always! It was such a fun reading experience that kept me turning pages and dying to know what happens next. Watching Lottie handle all the twists and turns is truly entertaining and has you on the edge of your seat at the same time! This one is sure to have a lot of buzz this summer, get it in your TBR now!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 12, 2025

✨️ Retired Serial Killer
🌿 Dark Secrets
✨️ Web of Lies

Lottie has retired from her serial killer ways and just wants to live the rest of her life in peace. However, this all changes when a young documentarian visits her home, hoping to collaborate on a documentary about her near-conviction. Lottie panics and kills her, but Plum doesn't just disappear. Lottie must navigate everyone who comes looking for her and avoid getting caught.

Have you ever wanted to read about Dexter after he retired, but as a woman? That's definitely the vibe I felt throughout this book! 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 kept me on the edge of my seat! I felt bad for rooting for Lottie, but I guess that might just be because we're reading from her POV and she's literally an old lady now? I found the way Lottie manipulates situations to cast doubt on each lead interesting.

You will not be able to put this one down! I honestly loved Lottie, and 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 was a true nail biter!

Thank you so much, Berkley Publishing and NetGalley, for the digital review copy!

*My Most Anticipated Psychological Thriller Read for 2025* and it Didn’t Disappoint!!

“Chamomile or Peppermint?”

Lottie Jones, a 75 year old retired serial killer, does not approve of guests knocking on her door UNINVITED, but she will still smile and invite them in, offering tea and cookies because she is nothing if not polite. 🫖 🍪

Decades earlier, she changed her name and moved to Baycliff, OR, where no one has heard about the crimes she has been acquitted of in Spokane, Washington.

Now, Thursday night bingo games at the local church and enjoying her favorite conversation with her new friends-debating whose children has screwed up the worst this week-qualifies as excitement. (not that they are keeping score or anything!)

But when the persistent Plum Dixon-an investigative reporter-shows up at her doorstep asking questions she would rather not answer-

SHE IS FORCED OUT OF RETIREMENT

Why wouldn’t Plum just take “NO” for an answer?

Getting away with murder was hard enough when she was young.

Now, there is DNA evidence, Cameras everywhere and Smart phones tracking your every move-in addition to the physical challenges like bad hips, and memory blips!

But, she isn’t about to let a murder (or two) tarnish her golden years!

I am a SUPER FAN of Samantha Downing’s work. I love her snarky, twisted sense of humor and am always eagerly awaiting her next book! They are pure entertainment from the first page to the last!

Lottie Jones-if loving you is wrong-I don’t want to be right! 😉

You can meet her on August 12, 2025.

Thank You to Berkley for the gifted ARC, provided through NetGalley. As always-these are my candid thoughts!

This was so creepy and so good! I fell into a slump after this thriller! It kept me guessing with the twists and turns. Samantha Downing can do no wrong! I love the atmosphere and the characters. 5/5 stars!!!!

Samantha Downing has yet to let me down with her novels. I loved this one just as I have loved reading everything she wrote. The plot and story move quickly, and the end is satisfying. What more could you want in a suspense novel?

In Too Old For This, our main character is Lottie. Living alone in a large old house, Lottie, who is in her seventies, plays bingo and, yes—faced murder accusations decades ago. Though she was not found guilty, she did it. We learn this right away.

When Plum Dixon arrives on her doorstep, looking to make a docuseries about her, Lottie makes a swift decision that sets forth the adventure of this story. Turns out Lottie has a very special way of shutting things down to evade suspicion.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. I could see this as a series, I bet it happens!

Old habits are hard to break.

Lottie Jones has gotten away with murder. (Well, multiple murders to be more precise.)

Now in her mid-seventies, she divides her time attending church on Sundays, and playing weekly bingo with her two closest friends. Ahhh…the joys of retirement.

But an unexpected knock on the door is about to change everything. A young woman named Plum wants to make a docu-series about people wrongfully accused of a crime. Oh-oh! Dredging up her past? Looking into all her murders…I mean, accusations of murder.🤭 Well we can’t have that, now can we?‍💁🏼‍♀️

Once a serial killer…

I adored Lottie’s character! Sharp, sly, witty and extremely dangerous! Everything I want to be when I’m her age. Ok, maybe not the dangerous part😉 Let’s just call it fierce.

Samantha Downing has done it again! A deviously fun thriller that you won’t be able to put down. Put all your weekend plans aside and enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing

Samantha Downing delivers another addictive thriller with Too Old for This, a darkly humorous and suspenseful tale of a retired serial killer whose past refuses to stay buried. Lottie Jones is a fantastic protagonist—sharp, calculating, and unexpectedly charming as she navigates the complications of aging while trying to keep her deadly secrets hidden.

With its fast pace, witty dialogue, and clever twists, this book is both chilling and entertaining. The tension builds masterfully as journalist Plum Dixon gets too close for comfort, forcing Lottie to prove that old habits die hard. Fans of dark comedies and psychological thrillers will love this razor-sharp, wickedly fun read!

Samantha Downing's signature dark humor is cranked up to one hundred in TOO OLD FOR THIS, a whip smart story about a geriatric serial killer who simply wants to settle down. Walker-wielding Lottie Jones is as twisted as they come, and I, for one, will never underestimate the elderly again.

✨ I’m going to need Ms. Samantha Downing to sit me down and explain to me exactly how she has me rooting for bad guys every single time. This one is binge-worthy and filled with dark humor, games of cat and mouse, heart-pounding suspense and an elderly lady you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley - but that you also kinda like. (Send help.) It’s an action-packed roller coaster ride and another hit for this author.

✨My mother is the same age as Lottie and in better shape than I am. She could 100% pull of the physical feats that Lottie does in this book. And don’t think I’m not side-eyeing her now trying to figure out what she’s capable of. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️

✨This will be one of those rare books that I re-read because I can only imagine how fabulous Lottie will be on audio.

✨Watch for this one on August 12. I highly recommend for readers who enjoy:

🔨Endearing serial killers antiheroes
🔪Women over 70 main characters
👵🏻Characters you love to hate and hate to love
🔪Dark humor
🔨Cat and mouse

My thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

Thank you so much to Berkley for this highly anticipated book!

SAMANTHA FREAKING DOWNING! That should just be the whole book review. This woman is INSANE (meant only in the kindest way possible)

If you've read Samantha Downing's books in the past you know they can get a little...out of the box crazy and sometimes extremely dark. While this one was very messed up and demented, it also almost had this light nonchalance about it too. It's very hard to explain how Downing pulls this off, but she does. This is NOT a cozy mystery, but it did feel comforting in a very messed up and twisted way. I think the comfort only went as far as the cookies and tea scenes honestly, but hey, it's something.

Another thing I love about Samantha's books is her memorable characters. I NEVER remember character names and can easily recall to mind the names of her characters in FOR YOUR OWN GOOD [(Teddy) Insert milk emoji IYKYK], A TWISTED LOVE STORY, and now I'm adding Lottie Jones to the list!

Lottie Jones is going to shock a lot of readers come August and I can't wat for everyone to read it!

4.5 stars rounded up!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Lottie Jones is 80 years old, living a quiet life with a few friends going to church twice a week. An investigative journalist knocks on her door bringing up allegations of her possible multiple murderous past that Plum wants to make into a documentary. Lottie comes out of retirement and things escalate as she keeps trying to kill her way out of this mess. Very entertaining book and I chuckled many times with Lottie's dry wit.

This was like dexter but he's an old deary, both witty with a propulsive plot, this had me HOWLING with laughter!

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC

I was very excited when I read the premise of this book. Old lady serial killer? Yes, please. I'm happy to say that Samantha Downing did a great job. Too Old For This was a page turner with an intriguing main character. Lottie was so fun to read about. I jumped between being surprised by her brutality and laughing at her dark humor.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me a digital ARC. This is the first Samantha Downing book I’ve read. And, Wow! am I glad I did! What a fun and exhilarating ride!
Lottie Jones is a sweet little old lady that lives by herself. She attends church every Sunday and joins her group of friends at same church every Wednesday for bingo night. She also happens to be a “retired” serial killer. Years ago, in her 20’s, Lottie, then known as Lorena Lansdale, discovered how good it felt to dispose of anyone who mistreated, bullied or just annoyed her. Soon a local police detective zeroes in on her and starts putting the pieces of her puzzle together. After making her life, and the life of her young son, very hard with his very public investigation and accusations his case completely falls apart. Lorena sues the county for defamation and wins a nice settlement and a new, sealed to the public, name. She moves from Washington state to Oregon with her son to start a whole new life. But does continue her beloved lifestyle.
Now it’s years later and a retired Lottie has eased into her quiet life of retirement with occasional visits to her adult son in Northern California. But everything changes one night when Lottie gets a visit at home from a young woman named Plum Dixon. Plum is working on a docu-series about people falsely accused of murder and how it affected them. Her research has brought her to Lottie and she’d love to interview her for her show. Lottie thinks fast and Plum is soon dispatched. Setting off a crazy roller coaster ride for Lottie and the reader as we learn there are consequences to impulsively killing an unwanted visitor to your home. Someone who may have a boyfriend and/or mother who misses them.
As Lottie’s life becomes more complicated and suspenseful this readers experience became more exciting, tense and fun. I really enjoyed this book and, weirdly, the character of Lottie. Her dry whit and outlook while telling this story left me rooting for her. And needing to repeatedly remind myself that she’s actually the bad guy. I will be heading to my local bookstore immediately to purchase Samantha Downing’s back list! I’m very anxious to start reading her previous work.

This is my fourth Samantha Downing book and I think having an idea of what to expect from the author made this way more enjoyable. If there’s one thing I know about this woman it’s that she’s going to write characters that readers will love to hate!

I was in the mood for a fast-paced book that would keep me engaged and that’s exactly what I got. I almost always go in blind so for me, the cover and title alone were enough to go on, but if you need a bit more convincing let’s just say a retired serial killer finds a reason to come out of retirement.

The story is snarky and fun and I finished it in just under 24 hours. It was suspenseful but don’t anticipate too many extreme twists. I think a few plot points would have been really fun to develop a bit more but otherwise it was pretty unique and darkly funny!

My biggest complaint is that our protagonist is 75-years-old and spends quite a decent chunk of time soliloquizing about her imminent demise. Maybe Martha Stewart has given me unreal expectations of aging but in my book a sharp and decently agile 75-year-old doesn’t have one foot in the grave just yet.

Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.

Too Old For This sucked me in from the very first chapter. I just had that feeling that this book was going to be a five star read for me and it didn’t disappoint. I absolutely loved the main character Lottie her personality was so entertaining to read. She was so witty and had an answer for every problem that came her way. I really don’t want to say much about this one because you really should just go in blind. I really loved this book. I had so much fun reading it one sitting.
5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

This book rules.

I had a fantastic time reading it today. It’s funny, sad, suspenseful. Just a great book.

SUMMARY:
Lottie Jones is just the cutest old lady on Bluebell Lane. All her time is spent at church with her two best friends, playing bingo and gossiping. Her son is getting remarried, so that offers plenty of drama. She retired from her job at the bank seven years ago and has been living a quiet life ever since.

She killed her last victim over a decade ago.

Now, a young woman comes knocking, dredging up secrets buried in 1985. She wants to make a docuseries about the time Lottie was wrongfully accused of murder. Will she finally be able to get the truth out of Lottie?

MY THOUGHTS:
Lottie is such an interesting character to follow. Like, she is so funny. Her realization that she is getting too old to live alone and do the things she loves is heartbreaking. You really start to care about her and want her to be happy. Then at the end of a long sequence of her happily dancing at a wedding or cooking with her friend, she says something absolutely wild that reminds you she is a monster.

I feel like a lot of books that have the main character be the villain go a little to far in making the character likeable or unlikeable. This book did neither. Lottie maintained a perfect grey middleground the whole time. What a great character.

Speaking of characters! We have great side characters in this one. The entire Morgan chapter was so great. Lottie’s best friends Sheila and Bonnie were delightful.

This book is also a fantastic meditation on aging. Like yeah, the thing Lottie is having to give up is murder. Still! The way this affects her, the way she has to start using a cane, how she looks into retirement homes...it’s sad! Seeing her make her peace with all this is actually kind of uplifting.

FINAL OPINION:
READ THIS BOOK. You won't regret it. Out of the 18 books I have read this year, it is by far the best. Set yourself a reminder of its release date; you don’t want to miss it!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Lottie is in her 70’s and retired. Her days consist of going to church and a weekly bingo night for some gossiping with her gal pals. Sounds innocent enough. What no one knows is Lottie is a retired serial killer. Years ago she had to take her son, change their names and leave their old life behind. But someone has found out who she is and now it’s time for Lottie to go back to work. She may be older and her body is full of aches and pains but she will get the job done.

Too Old For This takes you on a ride that you never want to get off. You can’t put this one down. Fast paced, dark, humorous and twisty. What more could you ask for? Samantha Downing, please, never stop writing!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.