Such a fun book - 4 out of 5 stars! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for an ARC of this novel.

A group of friends were near retirement age when their husbands blew all of their savings on a bad investment. A plan then forms to cash in on their life insurance plans.

This story had a lot of back and forth between the husbands and wives but I loved the pacing of this novel. The plot started a bit slow but quickly picked up. I wouldn’t call this a cozy mystery as it was too well written but it is not as dark as a typical suspense book.

You don’t typically see individuals in this age group as the main characters in a novel. It was nice to see this for a change and show that life doesn’t end at 65.

I really enjoyed this novel. It kept me engaged. The characters were clever and modern. The plot was unique. I would recommend this for anyone who enjoys stand alone mysteries and light hearted adventure.

Married? Kids? At that age of retirement? Often feel like going off the deep end because things are bonkers? Then you must read this! What a fun and hilarious book that is perfect for a book club! Highly entertaining and just enough crazy scenarios that will have you at the edge of your seat from start to finish!

I was completely swept up in this. I couldn't stop listening to it. And i love the narration such a great job. I was so looking forward to this and it didnt disappoint me.
This is a great beach read one that you have to pick up.
Thank you NetGalley !

It’s a great premise but the tone wasn’t a good fit for my reading preferences. I was hoping for something funnier throughout and very cheeky characters. There are still humorous moments but the main characters, the wives and husbands, were more earnest and pensive overall. It was fine but I constantly felt like it was just on the cusp of gaining a flow and momentum that would bounce along… but didn’t.

Breaking the plot down though, it’s delightfully absurd and fairly intricate. There’s a lot going on and a lot of characters. I enjoyed some, not all, of the roles they played in the mayhem. And while Padma’s role, and the comedy of errors happening around and through her, helps the plot along, I also thought her drama was one too many. It’s all incredibly creative and a triumph once it’s all wrapped up, though occasionally frustrating… it just wasn’t in a voice, or executed in a way, that fit for me.

I’d still definitely recommend giving it a try if the premise appeals to you! And I liked the audiobook. I originally tried the ebook but stalled out. Once I began the audio I was able to find a rhythm. The narrators really brought the characters to life.

Morbid and fun at the same time. Someone who is a year away from retirement, but without the burden of husbands, I really enjoy this dark, dark tale. The stoy took turns that I did not see coming. I’ve already recommended it to a friend.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC of this book.

I enjoyed The Retirement Plan. It was surprising, funny, and kept me guessing. I loved the friend group and friend support system. This book was a calamity of errors. It was a perfect summer read! It you are looking for a little mystery, friendship, and fun give this one a try.

"The Retirement Plan" by Sue Hincenbergs is a poignant exploration of the complexities and challenges of planning for retirement. The novel delves into the lives of its characters as they navigate the emotional and financial aspects of this significant life transition. Hincenbergs' writing is both relatable and insightful, capturing the anxieties and hopes that come with the prospect of retirement.

The characters are well-drawn and multifaceted, each bringing their own unique perspectives and experiences to the table. The story balances humor and drama, making it an engaging read that resonates with anyone contemplating their own retirement journey. Hincenbergs skillfully weaves together themes of family, friendship, and the search for purpose, creating a rich narrative that encourages readers to reflect on their own lives.

Overall, "The Retirement Plan" is a heartfelt and thoughtful novel that offers valuable insights into the challenges of aging and the importance of finding fulfillment in the later stages of life. It's a compelling read for those interested in personal growth and the intricacies of human relationships during this pivotal time.

Murder, Mischief, and Midlife Mayhem: A Hilarious Ride with The Retirement Plan
If you’re in the mood for a wildly entertaining, laugh-out-loud mystery with a darkly comedic twist, The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs should be at the top of your reading list.

The story centers around Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa—three longtime friends who’ve spent years dealing with the fallout of their husbands’ disastrous financial decisions. But when their mutual friend Marlene’s husband suddenly dies in a tragic accident, and Marlene starts living her best life thanks to a hefty insurance payout, the trio begins to wonder: Could a “retirement plan” like that be their ticket to freedom, too?

What follows is a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt journey full of missteps, misunderstandings, and murder plots gone awry. What the wives don’t realize is that their husbands are entangled in shady dealings of their own—and they’re just as suspicious of Marlene’s windfall as anyone else.

Hincenbergs masterfully balances humor with suspense, creating a story that’s both gripping and genuinely funny. I couldn’t put this book down. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the tangled web of secrets and schemes, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.

What’s especially impressive is how cinematic the story feels—without compromising the depth or quality of the writing. Unlike books that read like thinly veiled screenplays, The Retirement Plan is fully realized as a novel, yet it begs to be adapted for the big screen. It’s easy to picture these quirky, scheming women lighting up a dark comedy on Netflix or HBO.

Whether you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, character-driven comedies, or just looking for a good time with a great book, this one delivers. It’s sharp, smart, and a total delight from start to finish. I’d recommend it to readers of all ages—especially anyone who’s ever dreamed of trading in real-life headaches for a little fictional mischief.

I received this as an audiobook ALC from NetGalley. This was a fun listen that is perfect for summer. A friend group has wives at odds with their husbands due to some poor financial decisions. This leads them to take some bold choices in how to recoup their retirement funds. Funny, a little silly, more than occasionally messy and with some very entertaining side characters. Not perfect, but very fun! 4⭐️

This book was funny! I think it would make a great movie with the husband's side to things and then the wives and how they are interpreting the events surrounding the death of their friend. And I loved the happy ending when they all found each other again to live out their paradise lives.

I really enjoyed the characters. They felt real and relatable, especially as they navigate new adventures and second chances.

If you’re looking for a cozy, feel-good novel that’s perfect for relaxing with, this one fits the bill. It’s all about embracing change and proving it’s never too late for a fresh start.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audio edition of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was able to read this one simultaneously on audio as well as in print.

The characters are laugh-out-loud funny, the plot is outrageous, the twists and turns will keep you guessing, and the ending did not disappoint. I really adored this novel and thought it was such a fun book to read.

I appreciated the life lessons within and the quasi relationship advice throughout as well. You can surprisingly learn a lot from the characters and their antics. I also really enjoyed the alternating perspectives- I thought all of the different points of view made for an even better novel and helped build the plot well.

I would 100% consider reading more by this author in the future. This book is a great fit for fans of the Finlay Donovan series.

While there were a few moments (early on) in which I wondered how this story was going to pan out and if I was really going to like it, in the end I found it thoughtful and compelling. The four couples at the heart of the story—longtime friends who have faced challenges in their quest to eventually retire—do some unexpected things and end up in over their heads. It is not slapstick funny, but there is a lot of humor and I enjoyed it quite a bit on audiobook. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review.

Thanks to Harper Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

OK, so this book is just completely ridiculous, but it's also very relatable. Who hasn't wanted to off their annoying spouse after having been married for decades?

That said, the cavalier attitude towards hiring a hitman to ice your hubs (esp all at once, in multiples) was a little bit off-putting. Still, if *my* husband had lost all of our retirement money in an ill-advised scheme, you can bet I'd be feeling murderous - not to mention that Pam's husband is inconsiderate and a slob.

It's entertaining enough. Middle aged and retirement age MCs are having a moment, and if you liked "Kills Well With Others," you'll probably like this.

Kiiri Sandy can handle many different accents and voices, always a plus.

This was a dnf for me. I really loved the idea of this book - and I saw quite a few positive posts about it, which led me to requesting the audio. But I found it really slow and hard to connect with the characters, and the narrator was not capturing my attention or bringing me into the fold enough to help move the plot along. The reading felt flat and wasn’t bringing the story to life in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat. I do think others will like this book, it just wasn’t for me.

The Retirement Plan 4 couples who have all been married for many years. 5 years ago the husbands made a very risky investment and lost their entire retirements, and since then the marriages have all been very rocky. One of the husbands dies in his garage, and his wife is surprised to find that he had a million dollar life insurance payout. When the other wives realize that the husbands all had the same policies, they decide to have their husbands murdered for the life insurance policies. They go to a Salvadoran barber because they figure he know how to "take care of something that needs to be taken care of", and pay him $50k to retain his services.

What they don't know is that the husbands have discovered a broken machine at the casino where 2 of them work and have been skimming off money for the past 4 years. When they reach their goal of $10m they are going to surprise the wives and they will all be able to retire. When their friend unexpectedly dies in his garage, though, they worry that the casino has caught on and that they will all be murdered soon. So they turn to their Salvadoran barber and ask him to murder whoever is trying to murder them!

Lots of fun twists in this book, and the author does a great job of interweaving all of the plot points. Good one!

My thanks to #NetGAlley, the author, and the publisher or the ARC of this book!

4 couples, friends for ages, the wives resentful of their husbands after they lost all their retirement savings in a botched investment deal together. One husband seemingly dies in a freak accident, one wife cashing in big on his life insurance. The 3 remaining wives now devise a plan to get their retirement money back from their husband’s life insurance, while the husbands are involved in their own plan.

I loved this book! It was the perfect mystery that kept you guessing the whole way through. There were so many comedic mishaps, miscommunications and wrong assumptions throughout the story. I really liked how the story flowed and pretty much came full circle at the end. I found the characters to be very relatable and I loved the friendship the women and men shared.

The narration was done perfectly. It was very engaging and I enjoyed all the voices for every character, which were easy to distinguish.

If you’re looking for a fun mystery to read this summer, keep this one on your radar!

This book was just fun. Four friends, one of whom has been recently widowed and three who hire a hitman to get rid of their husbands too. Who would have thought that their husbands had hired the same hitman...

I laughed so many times while listening to this book - it was just a good time. So many twists, great characters and a satisfying ending. It was the perfect mix of suspense, mystery, chick-lit, rom-com and fun! There was nothing not to like here.

Zany kinda comedy of misunderstandings with 4 60-something couples dealing with aging, money problems and really long marriages. The men steal millions from a casino, the wives hire a hit man to kill the men, the hit man/barber helps them all - plus there’s a great dog named Elmer. The other great thing about all whirlwind of zaniness is the lifelong friendships that these 8 people have and how important those types of relationships are. I laughed out loud…