I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Kills Well With Others: A Novel by Deanna Raybourn Series: Killers of a Certain Age #2
Also in this series: Killers of a Certain Age: A Novel
Published by Berkley on March 4, 2025
Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense
Pages: 368
Format: ARC
Source: NetGalley
Goodreads
Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone...literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.
Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.
Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.
Story Locale: US, Europe, North Africa
Review
Deanna Raybourn’s latest book proves that revenge, like wine, gets better with age.
This sequel to Killers of a Certain Age follows four retired assassins who can’t seem to stay retired. Someone’s digging up their old hits, and it’s not for nostalgia’s sake. A mysterious Eastern European gangster and a vengeful crime queen are in the mix, and our favourite lethal ladies might be next on the chopping block.
Told through Billie’s eyes, the story crackles with wit even as bodies drop. These women have the kind of friendship that only comes from decades of watching each other’s backs – and helping hide their bodies. They bicker like old friends and kill like professionals, all while dealing with the joys of aging joints and sensible shoes.
The plot races across Europe faster than you can say “senior discount,” with enough surprises to keep thriller fans guessing. Raybourn nails the details of both spy craft and tourist traps, creating a world where deadly weapons might be hidden in a Werther’s Original wrapper.
Fair warning: despite the laughs, this is still a book about killing people. But if you like your murder mysteries with a side of menopause jokes and a cast of characters who prove that experience beats youth every time, “Kills Well with Others” is your next read.
4.5/5 stars – Because sometimes the best revenge is living well and killing better.
