Too Old for This is a highly original dark comedic thriller that’s deliciously entertaining from start to finish! The story centers on Lottie Jones, a retired serial killer who’s managed to disappear into the quiet rhythms of small-town life. Her cozy bingo nights with church friends and small-town gossip mask a dark past—until Plum Dixon, an investigative producer, turns up on Lottie’s doorstep, intent on featuring Lottie in a TV series about wrongly accused people. When her cozy anonymity is suddenly threatened, Lottie’s only response is another murder! If this is your first Samantha Downing book, be prepared for her signature blend of dark humor and morally black satire! The narrative is full of Lottie’s witty inner dialogues, transforming Lottie from a simple senior citizen into a cunning, audacious anti-heroine. The writing is concise, fresh, and deliciously engaging, and the relentless pacing makes the story feel much shorter than its 400 pages. In fact, readers will be wishing for more time spent with Lottie by the end, as her resiliency and humor are entirely infectious and hilarious! Lottie is a charmingly twisted protagonist whose wry and often self-deprecating voice is oddly relatable! She’s quick-thinking for an elderly woman and not afraid to take risks or make bold statements to keep herself out of trouble—even if it means murder or fabricating ridiculous mistruths that could come back to haunt her. She’s also a sociopath—never once does she feel an ounce of guilt or remorse for the murders she commits. Instead, her only regrets are the foolish mistakes she makes that make her look suspicious—and the blame she puts on herself is always infused with ridiculous sarcasm that will leave readers laughing! Lottie is also a master of putting on different masks to give off the persona she wants—with her church girlfriends she’s the responsible mother who’s suddenly going downhill and needs help, and with her son’s fiancé she’s a compassionate and accommodating mother-in-law. There are also so many fun and interesting side characters in this story—most of whom become a threat to Lottie remaining a free woman and whom she has to “deal with” in one way or another! The story is packed with twists, turns, and red herrings, with Lottie getting out of one bad situation only to be thrown into another one—it’s reminiscent of watching multiple episodes of a highly bingeable thrilling TV series that you don’t want to end! The story is unpredictable, and Lottie always has tricks up her sleeve that readers won’t see coming—especially in the final climactic chapters! The novel themes of ageism and societal invisibility are very evident throughout the book. Lottie is the ultimate example of how older women can be underestimated and written off. In her case, she flips the script and uses her geriatric invisibility and the outdated stereotypes to a deadly advantage—and in doing so, she takes readers on a wild ride that they won’t soon forget! In summary, Too Old for This isn’t your typical thriller—it’s a genre-bending thrill ride that perfectly combines suspense, satire, and character study. Downing has written a story as sharp as the axe behind Lottie’s back on the cover of the book—and one that will entertain readers across multiple genres! Anyone who enjoys wickedly clever, fast-paced thrillers, dark comedy, and marvelously unlikeable female leads will absolutely devour this book!