Too Old for This: A Novel by Samantha DowningPublication Date: August 12, 2025
Pages: 400
Add on: Goodreads
Buy the Book: Amazon
Rating: ★★★★½
Source: From the Publisher
Genre: Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological
Publisher: Berkley / Penguin Random House
A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.
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…
REVIEW
Let me tell you about the most delightful serial killer you’ll ever meet. Her name is Lottie Jones, and she’s trying to enjoy a peaceful retirement. The only problem? She used to murder people for fun, and someone just figured that out.
In Too Old for This, Samantha Downing delivers a wickedly entertaining story about a grandmotherly figure who’s more likely to poison your tea than bake you cookies. The premise could’ve fallen flat – I mean, a geriatric serial killer? Really? But Downing, who gave us My Lovely Wife and For Your Own Good, knows exactly what she’s doing.
Lottie steals the show. She’s sharp as a tack, funny as hell, and completely unapologetic about her homicidal past. When a mysterious person threatens to expose her secrets, Lottie has to decide whether to break her “retirement” vows. Through her eyes, we see how society’s tendency to ignore older folks becomes the perfect cover for getting away with murder.
The story moves at a perfect clip, with enough surprises to keep you guessing but never feeling manipulated. Downing’s writing is lean and mean, sprinkled with dark humour that lands just right. Sure, some readers might flinch at the violence or the pitch-black comedy, but that’s like complaining about getting wet at a water park.
What makes this book special isn’t just its killer premise (pun intended). It’s how Downing uses this outlandish setup to explore aging, reinvention, and whether we can ever really change. She flips ageist stereotypes on their head, turning them into Lottie’s secret weapons.
Bottom line: Too Old for This is a blast, a smart, subversive thriller that’ll make you laugh, gasp, and maybe think twice about underestimating that sweet old lady next door. If you like your thrillers clever and don’t mind some darkness with your humour, this one’s for you.
4.5/5 stars – Would definitely accept a dinner invitation from Lottie (but maybe skip the tea).
