This thriller was everything I never knew I needed, from the acerbic wit of the main character to how she treats murder as just a day in the life or at some times an inconvenient necessity. I loved this character, and the story. Hit just the right note.

I devoured this book! It was a very fun read and I really enjoyed that we had a serial killer who was a grandma! I appreciated all of the physical struggles that Lottie faced because it made the premise all the more believable. She was a very good main character and although she does bad things I was rooting for her LOL

My only criticism is the book cover because a few times in the book Lottie mentions braiding her hair back and with the cover design, it just doesn’t seem possible.

Okay this was a fun one! This book pulled me in from the beginning with its dark humor and likable main character. I mean I’m hardly old, old but I could even feel how relatable and tiring it must be to be a killer at Lottie’s age.

I really liked how the book touched on how society views the elderly in general. And laughed at all the conversations on how the elderly view their adult children. Although the book slowed for me in the middle, it did pick back up in the end.

There were a couple moments that I felt the book could have been shorter, but I still finished in a couple sittings so that’s not to say it wasn’t a quick and enjoyable read. The ending was a wee confusing to me (re: assumed motive for a certain character), but I loved how unique it was! 3.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing Group for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

From the opening chapter, this novel wastes no time getting to the point — and the “point” is murder. The first-person narration works beautifully, giving readers an intimate look into the mind of a protagonist who’s part menace, part mastermind. I appreciated the originality, especially for a genre that can feel repetitive.

Strengths:
• Fast, engaging pacing from start to finish
• A compelling, layered main character you can’t help but root for
• A late twist that lands hard because you aren’t expecting it

Weakness:
• Low on suspense compared to other thrillers

Okay… this book was pure chaotic fun. Too Old for This follows Lottie Jones, a retired serial killer just trying to live her best quiet life. A life that consists of church bingo, town gossip, the works, until someone starts poking around her past and she has to, you know, dust off some old skills.

It’s dark, funny, and completely unhinged in the best way. I listened to the audiobook and Elizabeth Wiley nailed Lottie’s voice and gave her so much personality. Definitely one of those stories that makes you root for a character you absolutely shouldn’t be rooting for lol

Too Old For This by Samantha Downing
Pub Date: 8/12/25
Format: audio/ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Ok an elderly retired serial killer with multiple scenes that happen at bingo? Say less.

This book was a blast and I was totally into this story from page one. I really love how different this premise was and I don’t think many authors could pull it off like Downing did! She really commits to her characters and gives each of her main characters such unique and specific voices. Lottie is no different!

This novel is chock full of dark humor and I can’t help but admit I was rooting for ol’ Lottie the whole way through. Narrator Elizabeth Wiley really sold her performance and helped staunchly put the listener in Lottie’s pocket even further.

I will say this book felt a bit longer than it needed to be and I was feeling fatigued with it around the halfway mark. It did redeem itself in the end, but there are some moments where it felt repetitive.

Despite that, if you’re looking for a thriller that feels a bit different, I would still definitely recommend this book! Big thanks to @netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I was absolutely glued to Too Old for This by Samantha Downing for two evenings. Who would have thought that a book about a septuagenarian serial killer would be so engaging! It was unputdownable!

Synopsis:
Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends. 

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the advanced digital copy of the book for my honest opinion. This book will be published on August 12, 2025.

📖 𝘛𝘰𝘰 𝘖𝘭𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 by Samantha Downing
📅 August 12, 2025
⭐️ 3.5 stars
📱ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Berkley Publishing

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘢𝘭. 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.

Lottie’s a “retired” geriatric serial killer. A new name, a new town, and several decades separate her from her old ways. That is until Plum shows up wanting to film a docuseries on the wrongly accused, meaning she’s connected Lottie’s old identity to her present situation. How will Lottie handle this in the midst of bingo nights at church, her son’s second wedding and the impending arrival of her next grandchild, and moving from her home to a senior living facility? She’ll need to revisit some of her old tricks!

I was compulsively addicted to this story for the better part of two days. I love the nontraditional main character and just had to know how she was going to get out of this disastrous spiral. I kept waiting for a mind blowing twist, but it never came. I’m not mad I read it, but it’s not a standout in the genre for me.

#bookstagram #arcreader #thriller #suspense

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing was my favorite book of the summer, and I’m recommending it to everyone who loves a little sass in their mystery. You can’t help but root for serial killer Lottie Jones. Just when you think she’s in over her head, she surprises you with her wit and skill. Both character-driven and plot-driven (a rare combo in thrillers), this one is a standout. It’s my first Samantha Downing novel, and definitely not my last. Highly recommend!

A book about a female geriatric serial killer! A septuagenarian Dexter! I wouldn't have guessed that there was any way to make a character like this so likeable. But, the author, Samantha Downing, has done just that. This story is original and very entertaining.

Lottie Dixon was once a serial killer, but she was able to leave her previous monstrous life of crime behind. Until something brings her out of retirement. However, Lottie finds out that being a serial killer is not such an easy thing to do in this current age of modern technology.

Besides the grisly murders and body dismemberment, I found this book to be chilling and thrilling while at the same time making me laugh. I loved it. I would highly recommend this to readers looking for something different, (as long as they aren't squeamish).

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Book Browse for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and the author for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lottie Jones is 75 years old and living a quiet, retired life in Baycliff, Oregon, until an uninvited visitor, Plum, knocks on her door. Plum wants to interview Lottie for a documentary she is making.

Lottie was a serial killer when she was younger, but never convicted of her crimes. What is she to do now? She has no choice but to come out of retirement. This leads to more visitors showing up and Lottie getting in deeper. Things are completely different now. Cell phones and camera don’t help her out at all. LOL

Lottie is not a good person, but it’s hard not to like her. She’s snarky and funny.

I mostly listened to this and it is narrated by Elizabeth Wiley. She is really good with the sarcasm and humor. I enjoyed her narration.

Thank you for providing me an ARC of this book! I really enjoyed this one. I loved that it was fast-paced and had short chapters. I felt like I was watching a movie while reading. I always appreciate a good mystery, so I will definitely be recommending this one!

Lottie Jones is a 75-year-old retiree who has a secret - she was a serial killer. Her world is upended the moment an investigative journalist shows up at her door with cameras and questions…

I absolutely loved this different take on the serial killer genre. It takes the cozy image of a benign, older woman and flips it into something dark, twisted, and funny! You will find yourself confused as you realize that you are rooting for Lottie - she’s the perfect morally grey grandma you didn’t know you needed.

I highly recommend Too Old For This by @smariedowning 🏆👵🏼 Happy reading!

Thanks for the opportunity to read in advance!

Lottie Jones is a 75 year old grandmother, avid churchgoer, devoted friend and retired serial killer. Lottie is enjoying a simple and quite retirement, where her only worries are what to make for the weekly bingo game at her church and her arthritis flaring up. That is until Plum Dixon, a young and spunky documentarian shows up on Lottie's doorstep unannounced, threatening to reveal some uncomfortable truths about a well hidden past that Lottie wants to keep buried. What follows is a series of unfortunate events that threaten to expose Lottie and her past. Can Lottie keep her secrets buried without risking exposure as the bodies start to pile up?

I absolutely loved this diabolical, dark and funny cozy thriller (is that even a genre?). I absolutely loved Lottie! She is a morally gray retired grannie, who cannot be bothered, has things to do and just happens to be a prolific serial killer. I found myself routing for Lottie the antihero because of how much I liked her as a character. I really enjoyed the premise and writing of this book that had me hooked from the first page and didn't let up till the very end, with just enough twists to keep me fully invested. This was the first book by Samantha that I have read and it will defiantly not be the last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC in return for my honest review

Such an unexpectedly fun read! I was fully captivated by Lottie—the sassy retired serial killer whose sharp wit, dry humor, and cunning kept me both rooting for her and cringing at the same time. She’s deviously likable, skillfully using the world’s tendency to overlook older women to her advantage. Her situation spirals in the most entertaining way—stepping back into murder feels as natural to her as a church potluck gone spectacularly off the rails.

The book strikes a brilliant balance between cozy charm and dark suspense. It’s laugh-out-loud funny in places, but never loses its edge. The narrative voice is razor-sharp, and Lottie’s reflections—comparing regret to arthritis, for example—deliver a surprising amount of emotional weight. The short, punchy chapters make it a perfect travel read, but the story builds into a fast-paced, thrilling ride that’s hard to put down.

I sincerely hope we get more from Lottie in the future. She’s an unforgettable character, and this was an absolute blast from start to finish.

This was such a fun and VERY unique serial killer story with a geriatric main character? Sign me up! We follow Lottie, who’s trying to leave her past behind and enjoy a quiet retirement, but things spiral quickly when investigative journalist Plum shows up, wanting to make a docuseries about Lottie’s not-so-peaceful past. And just like that, Lottie’s life is anything but quiet.

I really enjoy Samantha Downing’s writing style as it’s sharp, engaging, and her plots are so tightly woven, you can’t look away. The twists in this book were absolutely bonkers in the best way possible. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would swerve in a completely different direction, and I was spiraling (in the best way).

Surprisingly, I loved Lottie as a character, she’s clever, ruthless, and often makes terrible, morally gray decisions… but somehow you’re still rooting for her?? She’s this fascinating mix of dry wit, cold calculation, and a weird kind of charm that keeps you hooked.

If you’re in the mood for something twisty, fast-paced, and just plain fun, definitely give this one a go!

Perfect for readers who enjoy:
🔍 Twisty thrillers with unexpected turns
🔍 Morally gray, badass female characters
🔍 Dark humor and sharp dialogue
🔍 Unconventional protagonists (a retired serial killer?? 😂)

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an arc!

First thank you to Berkeley and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 stars

Synopsis: Lottie James is a retired grandmother and just wants to enjoy her weekly bingo game and friends. Her earlier life was quite interesting but she had put that behind her. One night she gets a visit from an investigative reporter who is doing a documentary on her past. Lottie can’t let that happen but that leads to a whole lot more

What I liked: Lottie was so charming you forget you are rooting for a serial killer. I enjoyed the way the story was told in an easy manner but had enough twists to keep you engaged. I read this in a little over a day because I couldn’t put it down. Lottie and her friends are great and love the commentary about what is brought to bingo night. The story was so good , I had to keep turning the page. I highly recommend this book and will be reading her backlist as well

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Lottie is retired and in her mid-70s. She enjoys her quiet life and keeps things interesting by going to bingo night at her church. One day, she gets a visitor at home. Her name is Plum and she is working on a docuseries. Somehow, she has found out about Lottie's past. We all have a past. It's okay, right? Well, we might not have one as interesting as Lottie's. She was accused of being a serial killer. The detective, Burke, was sure that it was Lottie. He tried every way possible to arrest her, but he couldn't find enough evidence or force Lottie to talk to him. Even with Lottie being cleared of the crimes, changing her name, having the documents sealed, and moving away, Plum has found her. She knows that Burke is behind this. And once visitors start showing up, they just keep coming. Why won't people let her stay retired?

I have loved all the books by this author that I have read, and within a few minutes, I knew that this one would be getting 5 ⭐️s from me. I know Lottie is the villain, but I was rooting for her the whole time. An elderly serial killer with arthritis and a bad hip who just wants to be left alone - perfect! If you love a good mystery/thriller with dark, edgy humor and little twists to keep you guessing through the whole story until the very end, I highly recommend this one.

I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Samantha Downing, Berkley Publishing Group, and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. ❤️

This book had me hooked from the beginning to the end!
Couldn’t put it down literally.
This was a masterpiece of thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat
Don’t underestimate this old lady Lottie. She doesn’t play!

A retired serial killer who has an unexpected guest will make her come out of retirement. In order to keep her secret, she has to do what she does best! She basically forced out of retirement because people don’t know how to mind their own business..
this book was so good. The chapters are short and straightforward. Don’t let this 70 year old lady fool you. She is witty, smart and very knowledgeable about her craft.

This was my first book by this author but definitely won’t be the last. She knows how to write good suspense thriller.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Diabolical, dark, and funny. Samantha Downing is back and better than ever. If you like dark humour, you’ll love this one.