Killers of a Certain Age Review

Hello, all!

I'm sure you all know by now about my love for Deanna Raybourn. Her Veronica Speedwell series is my favorite of all time (I recently got a butterfly tattoo for it), but her latest release, Killers of a Certain Age, might be giving it a run for its money. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Pub Date: 9-6-22
Adult - Mystery/Thriller

In the late 1970s, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie were four strangers recruited by a mysterious organization known as the Museum. They were pulled from their lives and sent to the English countryside to learn the ins and outs of assassination. The Museum doesn't deal in antiques but takes out those deemed unsavory. The foursome was trained to be the first all-female squad and spent hours honing their skills and brushing up on their specialties. Whether working as a team or apart, you could always count on them to never miss their marks.

Now, forty years later, Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie are ready to retire. They've given their all to the Museum over the years, but now it's time to hang up their garrotes and pack away the detonation devices. To celebrate the occasion, the group is sent on an all-expenses-paid cruise, but it doesn't take long for them to discover the trip isn't what it seems. The group finds themselves targeted by others in the organization, and they'll have to work together for one last job to either clear their names or die trying.

Picture Helen Mirren or Meryl Streep or even Sally Field kickin' ass and takin' names, and you have this book. Raybourn flips the script on the stereotypical action hero trope, and instead of giving you bulky men who never seem to get winded, you get women in their 60s who can still kill you, but they need to do some yoga after to realign their back. The concept is so brilliant; I can't believe no one's done it before (at least to my knowledge.) I adored every minute of it. It was fast-paced and action-packed but also had such humor and heart to it. There was never any moment when I was bored. I also was never able to guess what would happen next, and I love that when it comes to mysteries/thrillers. Raybourn is like that cool aunt who will let you do whatever you want but will also call you out on all your nonsense, and I love that about her. She manages to bring that vibe to all of her books, and it continues to be one of the reasons she's my favorite. If you're in the mood for a wild spy adventure filled with strong women, look no further than this.

Rating: 4.5/5