Do you want to be entertained for hours on end? Do you want to laugh aloud at a subject that normally is not laughable? Do you want to fall in love with a serial killer? Well then you need to read this book! I could not put it down the entire time I was reading it. I went to bed, had to get up and read another fifty pages. Cried into my pillow because I had to get up in the morning for work. I am not retired like Lottie. Of course I am not a retired serial killer like she is. Lottie is sarcastic, a fun-loving bingo partner in crime, and loves to mess with the church lady in charge of the food selection. Lottie has settled into a nice, comfortable life. She thinks about her past kills, but at seventy-five she does not get around like she used to.

One day the knocking at her front door begins and from there it seems like there is an endless stream of people she does not want in her life. First it is Plum, wanting to make a docuseries on why Lottie was wrongly accused of murder. Well, Lottie could not have that. When Plum vanishes, the knocking increases, annoying the crap out of Lottie. She cannot have this. Especially since her son is getting remarried. There is just too much going on, and her brain cannot keep up. Will Lottie's past finally be spilled out in the open? Or will she manage to get away with murder?

This was such a unique read. That kept me on my toes with all the twists and turns. Lottie is character I will not forget. She just seems fun to have around, until you upset her. Thank you to Berkley and Samantha Downing for this book that kept on giving.

Getting old is the best disguise... Lottie isn't the defenseless little old lady that people might think she is. Previously accused- and exonerated- for multiple gruesome murders, Lottie has settled into a tracksuit wearing, church going, bingo playing retirement life where no one knows her past secrets... or her truths of how she actually murdered all those people years ago.

When an eager young producer has the idea to focus her next crime docuseries on little old Lottie, Lottie has no choice but to bring her violent side out of retirement yet again. What happens next is a domino effect that leaves Lottie scrambling not to get caught (again). Can she get away with it this time without breaking a sweat- or a hip?!

This was such a fun and exciting read. Even though Lottie is the baddie, I couldn't help but root for her- and I think other readers will too. I loved watching her play the little old lady act to manipulate those around her while still staying as sharp as the knife she uses to chop up her victims. The way she placates her son Archie, his fiance, her church ladies and even the cops who are after her is so amusing and satisfying. Lottie's observations are hilarious, I loved being in her devious and yet perfectly hinged head.

With so many people potentially on to her, the cat and mouse element kept me coming back from more. Getting away with murder is one thing… getting away without a walker is another. I guess geriatric criminals is a sub-genre I didn't know I needed. What a fun and unique summer thriller read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ NetGalley Review
Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley, for this ARC — I devoured it like it was a forbidden snack at midnight.

From the very first chapter, I knew I was in trouble the good kind. Samantha Downing has this wicked gift for creating characters who feel so real, you’re convinced you’d either be best friends with them… or cross the street to avoid them entirely. This book is sharp, sly, and full of deliciously dark humor.

The pacing? Chef’s kiss. Every chapter pulled me in deeper, and every time I had to stop and “be an adult,” I resented it. Laundry? Forget it. Dinner? Overrated. I just wanted to live inside this story until the very last page.

The twists kept me hooked just when I thought I had it figured out, Downing leaned over and whispered, “Oh, sweetie… no,” and then threw me off a literary cliff (and I loved every second of the fall).

It’s clever, addictive, and the perfect mix of dark and fun. Whether you’re new to Samantha Downing or already a fan, this one is a must-read. Just clear your schedule first… trust me.

Everyone needs this book in their life , preferably right now.

The premise of Too Old for This immediately grabbed my attention. Thrillers are one of my most read genres, and there aren't many premises I haven't come across. Too Old for This seemed like it may be different from something I have ever read. I am happy to report - it is!

Too Old for This is half thriller and half commentary on the process of aging. While I, a twenty-six-year-old, couldn't relate much to Lottie's character, I found her honest and non-sugar-coated takes endearing. While the pacing is slower, thanks to the aging commentary, it is consistent throughout, which was something I feared going into this book. I'm glad no single part of the book was too slow.

During the first seventy-five percent of the book, I may have dared to call Too Old for This a cozy thriller if there ever has been one. With the domestic daily lives of the retired I was reading about with a side of murder, I couldn't help but think it. That was until a moment towards the end of the book that made me gag, never thought of it as cozy again.

There is a very large cast in Too Old for This. Yet everyone had their distinct place in the plot. You have Lottie's best friends, who can tell something is going on with their friend and yet can't put their finger on it. There is also Lottie's doting son and his pregnant (much younger) fiancée, along with his ex-wife and their two children. Of course, you also have the victims and everyone involved with the investigation, cops, and the family members. Out of all of them, there were none I particularly disliked, which I feel is almost unheard of in the thrillers I read. However, I do think a couple of them were a little overwritten.

My only gripe with the book is that the ending dragged on. I thought for sure this was the last chapter at least twice, and both times I was wrong. After the big crescendo of the plot, I think the remaining loose ends could have been summarized in one chapter. It could have been a brief overview instead of the in-depth detail that was given.

I had an overwhelmingly positive reading experience with Too Old For This! If you're looking for a thriller that is a little out of the box and features multiple in-depth overviews of church bingo night, I think Too Old for This will be a winner!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC copy of Too Old for This in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts above are my own.

Who knew my new fictional ride-or-die would be a grandma with a body count? Lottie is the antihero of all antiheroes, and Too Old for This had me giggling, gasping, and fully endorsing murder.

Lottie’s golden years are simple: bingo, gossip, and the occasional church feud. But Lottie has a secret… she’s a retired serial killer who’s never faced justice. When an investigative journalist comes knocking, a single split-second decision launches her into a tense, darkly humorous spiral where old habits die hard.

I absolutely adored Lottie, and telling the story from her POV made this book come alive. She’s snarky, whip-smart, unapologetically blunt, and unafraid to weaponize her age whenever it benefits her. She proves that “age is just a number,” and she does it with style. Honestly, I aspire to be like Lottie when I’m 75 (minus the, you know, casual murder).

I read this book in less than a day, and it’s safe to say I’d read 50 more books centered around Lottie’s misadventures. Honestly, I am begging for a prequel that tells the story of her younger years! Too Old for This gets an easy 6/5 stars from me *chef’s kiss*

Big thanks to Berkley Publishing Group for the gifted eARC!

This book was quite a ride!! I never thought I’d find myself cheering for a serial killer but here we are. Lottie was such a fun character. She had me cracking up more times than I can count. Highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the digital ARC!

Lottie Jones is a 75 year old retired serial killer that is trying to live a quiet, peaceful life. Until a young woman shows up on Lottie's doorstep wanting to interview her for a docuseries about falsely accused murderers. Lottie allows the young woman to come inside and ask questions, but Lottie's temper quickly gets the best of her and she's left with having to come out of retirement to clean up the mess she's made.

Overall, I like the idea of the story, but I feel like the execution was lacking. This is kind of like Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. Lottie is a funny character, but her actions were a little far-fetched for her age. The story is told from Lottie's point of view and there was a lot of internal monologue that didn't really capture my interest/attention. I loved My Lovely Wife by this author though, so I will continue to read her novels in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for providing an advanced reading copy!

Snarky, witty, hugely relatable, older women MCs are my catnip. Make them 'retired' serial killers trying to hang on to their lives out of jail and I was absolutely HOOKED on this latest from Samantha Downing. I loved the main character in this book and the excellent insights into the life of an older woman who has to rely on mobility aids because of her various conditions. As 'reformed' killer Lottie Jones scrambles to cover up the documentary reporter's death she couldn't help committing, this book kicks off an enthralling cat and mouse thriller that was excellent on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Shari Lapinski. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Septuagenarian Lorena Lansdale (aka Lottie Jones), a long-retired serial killer will be returning for an encore performance. Or two. Or more. These encores are borderline unintentional. Lottie would like nothing more than to live out the remainder of her assumed-identity days in small-town anonymity; the high point of her week is church bingo. But it seems as if circumstances will conspire to deny her that option. To begin with, an investigative filmmaker uncovers Lottie's new identity and and approaches her about making an in-depth documentary about her death-dealing past, and that of course can not be allowed. So one last killing to take away that threat. But then the filmmaker's boyfriend comes nosing around, asking uncomfortable questions and well, you can see where this is going? To Lottie's credit, she demonstrates a wickedly dark sense of humor and endears herself to the reader despite (or maybe because of) her proclivity for graphic violence. You'll never route so hard for a serial killer!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for this digital e-arc.*

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁‘𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: Lottie Jones, 75-year old retired serial killer, has worked hard to keep her past buried so when a young journalist starts snooping around there’s only one option for Lottie…murder!

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Too Old For This was one of my most anticipated 2025 reads and I wasn’t disappointed! I loved the dark humor and Lottie is such a great character that you’ll find yourself rooting for her despite her many crimes! Another great read from one of my favorites, Samantha Downing!

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
•character driven books
•no nonsense, geriatric main character
•serial killers
•cat-and-mouse games
•church potlucks and bingo
•short chapters
•fun, entertaining thrillers

Synopsis: Lottie Jones, a 75-year-old retired serial killer has been living a quiet life playing bingo and going to church - but when a persistent investigative journalist won’t stop asking questions, she is forced out of retirement.

Thoughts: I don’t know if I’ve ever rooted so hard for an obvious villain! Lottie is a clever, witty, cunning main character that I just couldn’t help but adore. She’s just a hoot! I have a soft spot for thrillers featuring elderly armchair detectives, so this one was right up my alley with the unique plot of an elderly serial killer. The pacing is tight, the writing is sharp, and the storyline is so unhinged in the best way. If you’re in the mood for a darkly funny and chaotic thriller, you’re going want to bump this up on your TBR!

Read this if you like:
👵🏼 elderly main characters
👵🏼 dark humor
👵🏼 anti heroes
👵🏼 serial killer thrillers

United States Publication: August 12, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

When Lottie Jones opens her front door and Plum Dixon is standing there asking for an interview for a true crime docuseries, Lottie feels she must take action. But every action has a reaction, or something like that, and Lottie's decision regarding Plum sets off a series of similar events. Lottie, a retired serial killer, has come out of retirement. Lottie isn't as young as she used to be, and murder is brutal on the body, but she pushes through the discomfort to keep her tracks covered and herself out of prison. The problem is all this new technology that she isn't used to having to think about or navigate; it makes hiding evidence a lot harder these days. Is this going to be Lottie's last stand, or will she survive these recent killings to live her best retired life?

This was a fun read. It's always interesting when an author can get their readers rooting for the killer. And Lottie wasn't killing for really any other reason than she felt a need to when she experienced rage or disgust with someone's behavior. So, really, there is no reason to root for her, and yet, I found myself hoping she wouldn't get caught, groaning when she made mistakes that might lead to her capture, and relieved when the spotlight wasn't on her. It makes me wonder - would I root for a serial killer in real life, or was I only on Lottie's "side" because I knew this was fiction? *shrug* I don't plan on ever having or needing a reason to find out if real life would be different. I haven't read any of Downing's other titles, but after reading this one, I may look into her previous books, as I enjoyed this one. It read easily and was enjoyable.

What do you do when you're a retired serial killer who got away with it, and then a woman shows up at your door passionate about making a docuseries about you were wrongfully accused? Come out of retirement, of course.

Lottie has the same meticulous brain that let her get away with it all in the past, but a body that can't keep up with what needs to be done, and technology that she knows is watching her but that she doesn't know how to perfectly evade. The dominos and the bodies continue to fall, and Lottie finds herself in a spiral that has her past coming back to bite her in the butt.

While I did really enjoy this for the most part, about 2/3 of the way through there's some events happening where it just absolutely felt like the wrong move, and Lottie didn't do enough to protect herself. It made me really frustrated and I think added a bitter note for me. You might feel differently, and it's still extremely entertaining.

It's an achievement that this book made me root for the serial killer, even if not everyone she hurt deserved it.

Thank you Berkley for this ARC!

I don't normally find myself reaching for crime thrillers, but something about this caught my eye.

The book grabs you in right from the first chapter - and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout.

I thought this premise was new and fresh and a welcome take compared to all the 'cozy thrillers' in the market right now.

Lottie Jones is a retired serial killer, brought out of retirement when a stranger shows up at her door asking questions about Lottie’s past. After moving and changing her identity decades prior, someone threatening to reveal Lottie’s connection to numerous unsolved cases means there’s only one way for her to take care of the situation…

This book was hilariously murdery 🔨

Downing managed to create a dark, weird, and… (dare I say likable?🤪) character I will never forget.

Getting the POV of a female serial killer who’s a septuagenarian… I sure didn’t have this on my bingo card but loved it nonetheless!

There was a lot of action and even some satisfying character development 👏

Cannot recommend this book enough! Might need to throw it on my staff shelf at the bookstore 🖤

Lorena Lansdale has been accused of murder. Multiple murders. When she refuses to speak to police, in a time before DNA testing, they are forced to let her go. In the eyes of the community, she is guilty. She loses her job, becomes an outcast of society, and her son is being bullied. She retaliates by suing the city, moving out of state, and changing their names. Thus, Lottie Jones is born.

One night Lottie receives a knock on her door. On the other side is Plum Dixon. She wants to do a docuseries on people that were wrongfully accused for crimes. Lottie invites her in for tea. By the end of their time together, Lottie has another victim.

This book was so much fun! I read it in two days. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. This is my first book from this author, but for sure won't be my last.

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I love older, female characters who just so happen to be serial killers. (Looking at you Maud from An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good)! It's just a fun time! Following Lottie after the murder of Plum ,and all the crazy things that follow after, just so she can keep everyone off her trail was such a good time. Couldn't be me. Too much time and effort.

I highly recommend picking this one up! I will for sure be getting a copy for my shelves to reread in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Binged this in 2 days - LOVED it. So unique. Would’ve been a 5 star read if the ending would’ve been a bit more shocking; however, I loved the MC and that she was so different than any other I’ve read before. Diabolical!

Samantha Downing (favorite author) returns with her fifth novel and best yet, TOO OLD FOR THIS. The most anticipated book of 2025 and it DELIVERS! Wickedly hilarious.

I can't wait for you to meet Lottie Jones! Here are some highlights:

- Best Thriller of 2025!
- Best Character of 2025
- Best Cover of 2025

Fans will be excited for a series featuring this laugh-out-loud, witty, and smart former serial killer turned sweet grandmother, trying to live a normal life in retirement until someone threatens her carefully laid life.

About Lottie Jones

- Enjoys Earl Grey and peppermint tea.
But watch out—she's been known to add a little poison, if needed.
- Former banker. Retired seven years earlier.
- Best friends are Sheila and Bonnie.
- Has a devoted son, Archie, who is a lawyer.
- Never married; she was a single mother. Archie's dad, Gary, didn’t make it long after conception—oops....an unfortunate fall in the shower.
- Grandchildren: Olive and Noah.
- Archie, divorced from Stephanie. Soon to be married to Morgan, who is younger and pregnant.
- Lottie attends First Covenant Church twice a week: Sunday service
~ Thursday nights for bingo, raffles, and potluck with her friends.
~Pastor Doug is there, along with the nosy Glenda, who frowns upon store-bought food items—homemade is preferred.
- Lottie has a bad hip and has been putting off hip surgery until after her son's wedding.
- Considering moving into a senior community and selling her home.

Meet Lottie Jones (formerly known as Lorena Mae Lansdale), a spirited septuagenarian, seventy-five-year-old, trying to leave her past life of crime behind.

One day, an unexpected visitor, Plum Dixon, arrives at her door. Lottie had seen Plum's calls but didn’t answer, hoping she would go away—privacy is hard to come by these days!

Plum wants to create a docuseries and is trying to persuade Lottie by highlighting the excitement of her life and expressing interest in hearing her side of the story. The series aims to investigate old crimes and compare what was reported in the past to what we know now. Lottie was wrongly accused of a crime, and Plum hopes to exonerate her through this series.

However, Lottie is adamant about NOT participating. Years ago, she changed her name after being labeled a murderer, serial killer, and psychopath. She moved to Oregon with her son, Archie, who faced bullying because of her past. Lottie wants to keep her history hidden from her friends in her new life.

All of this took place in Spokane, but eventually, the police cleared Lottie's name. She hired a lawyer to sue the city, and the settlement provided her with the funds to purchase her current house, although it requires repairs.

Lottie has NO time for this foolishness. She does not want to be in the spotlight. She cannot allow this to occur, so unfortunately, the only thing to do is commit MURDER again.

But being that she is old now, with arthritis, it is much more difficult to clean up and hide all the evidence of the crime with a bad hip.

Plum has forced her out of retirement (serial killer). It's a good thing she has a large freezer in the garage, a wheelbarrow, and a chainsaw.

But it does not stop here. Then comes Cole, Plum's boyfriend, snooping around, trying to find Plum, knowing Lottie's house was the last place she was seen. Then two nosy detectives (Detectives Rey Tula and Kelsie Harlow) and the woman's long-lost mom.

Let the wicked fun begin!

Lottie just wants to retire in peace with no drama. But now she has to deal with dead bodies and hide evidence. Will Lottie be able to keep her secrets?

My thoughts...

I loved Lottie Jones! My favorite thriller of 2025. Downing pulls out all the stops with the loveable senior who is trying to live a normal life in her retirement. Razor sharp, witty, full of dark humor and suspense, TOO OLD FOR THIS is a total riot.

The author has created a dynamic character you will root for to the end. Geriatric thrillers resonate deeply with me, as they are brimming with rich life experiences, tantalizing secrets, and stories begging to be uncovered.

I am, of course, one myself, so I can relate (minus the serial killer part), and just moved recently to Greenlawn Manor independent senior living, and there is always drama going on.

Lottie is a brilliantly crafted, sharp, zany character who is utterly lovable. Her hilarious one-liners leave you in stitches while you are amazed at her genius at pulling off these crimes.

Prime for the big or small screen, I would love to see Meryl Streep playing Lottie. I want a front row seat.

Also, I think this story needs to be continued as Lottie is moving to a senior development, so there will be lots to discuss and crimes to uncover! Plus, I want to catch up with the entire cast.

Twisty, clever, and wildly entertaining, TOO OLD FOR THIS is a must-read that will keep you laughing from beginning to end! A huge fan, I have read all her books, and this one moves to the top as an all-time favorite.

Recs...

TOO OLD FOR THIS is for devoted fans of the author and those who enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's "The Martini Club series," Joy Fielding's "Jenny Cooper Has A Secret," Elle Cosimano's "Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave," (Mrs. Haggerty), Mark de Castrique's "Secret Lives Mystery series" (Ethel Fiona Crestwater-age 75), Paul Cleave's "Trust No One," "An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good." by Helene Turstenand, "Killers of a Certain Age," by Deanna Raybourn, Rebecca A. Keller's "You Should Have Known," and "I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home."
by Fergus Craig (Feb/26)

Interview...

Stay tuned for my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries QA with Samantha, where we go behind the scenes of the book and this mega talented author (pub day, Aug 12).

Special thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts. I also purchased the hardcover for my home library and look forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Wiley.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 12, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
Aug Newsletter
Aug 2025 Must-Read Books
Aug featured #AuthorElevatorSeries QA
Top thriller of 2025

“It’s not easy to navigate around this new world, because my hands are tied so tight and technology follows me everywhere. I can’t murder my way out of this mess.”

Samantha Downing does it again! This time with Lottie Jones, a retired septuagenarian living out her later years secluded in a small town, spending her time playing bingo at church. That is until unexpected guest Plum Dixon pushes her way into Lottie’s home with the idea of unearthing past crimes and “proving” she had been wrongfully accused. Lottie certainly cannot have that. What happens next…

This book sucked me in from the very first page! I just LOVE older characters. They always have that I no longer care attitude and so so much sass. Lottie was such a hoot! You know a book and character are written well when they have a less than desirable moral compass and yet you still root for them. I just adored Lottie and would love to read more from her!

If you enjoyed the Vera Wang books then you will LOVE this one! I sure did.

“No matter how many killers you arrest, there’s always going to be another.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

In Samantha Downing’s 5th book, Too Old For This, she has improved on all of those aspects. The cover caught my eye on Netgalley, and I’m grateful to have received an advance digital copy for review. It’s hard to put this one into a genre, as it is kind of cozy in a way when Lottie is playing Bingo with her church friends, and it’s darkly funny, yet there are gruesome murders.

› Lottie Jones is a 75-year-old retired serial killer. She stopped murdering people 10 years ago and has been living under a new name, raising her son. She loves her son, even though he has made some decisions she disagrees with, such as divorcing the mother of his children and starting a relationship with a much younger woman. Lottie’s favourite drink is tea, and her greatest fear is having her family and friends learning about her past life as a serial killer. She’s struggling with aging, frustrated that her body can’t do what it used to do, has been forgetting things and is worried about dying alone.

› A knock at the door introduces Plum Dixon, a producer of a docuseries who knows Lottie’s real name and how she was once accused of murder. She was found innocent at the time, but the public didn’t agree. Plum wants to set the record straight, but Lottie DOES NOT want a show done about her…so the only solution really is to kill Plum. What other choice did she have?

› The only problem is that murder is exhausting. Especially the cleanup. Lottie has to adapt to this new world. She’s not as strong as she once was, and there is a lot of new technology that makes it more difficult to get away with murder. She is “too old for this”.

“Like so many other things, murder began to feel like a chore instead of a joy.”

› One murder starts the domino effect, and Lottie ends up having to deal with one person after another.

› The main character has goals, strengths, flaws, external conflict and internal conflict; however, the side characters felt underdeveloped. I liked the relationship between Lottie and her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Stephanie. The dialogue and banter with the Bingo group are really fun to read. I enjoyed the descriptions of setting, world-building, and mood. The writing is engaging, with high readability, and I enjoyed the first-person point of view and short chapters. Although it is repetitive and has some fluff, the plot has a good pace, and I enjoyed the conflict and suspense. This has high intrigue, and it’s unique. There were a things that didn’t seem realistic, but I had a good time reading this, and it made me laugh out loud many times.

APPEAL FACTORS
Storyline: character-driven, intricately plotted, plot-driven, unconventional
Pace: medium
Tone: high-drama, suspenseful, dark, gruesome, violent
Humour: dark humour, sarcastic
Writing Style: well-crafted dialogue, candid, engaging, gritty, witty
Character: complex, flawed, sarcastic, strong female, well-developed
Disability representation: physically disabled

Read Alikes:
Diary of a Murderer by Young-Ha Kim, translated by Krys Lee
Secrets of a Serial Killer by Rosie Walker
What She Did by Carla Kovach
The Old Woman With the Knife by Gu Byeong-mo, translated by Chi-Young Kim

Final Thoughts
• Too Old For This is a darkly humorous story about aging and murder. It’s about the ways people have to learn to adapt to the changing world around us. I recommend this to fans of murder stories with sarcastic humour. This is set to release on August 12, 2025.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.