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There are currently 25 member reviews
for Too Old for This
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Molly A. (Pryor, OK)
Not Too Old For This
"Too Old For This" by Samantha Downing is the narrative of fictional serial killer Lorena "Lottie Jones" Mae Lansdale. Lottie is retired from her secret life, and her only drama is amongst the ladies at church and her son's unexpected second marriage. That is, until the day that docuseries producer Plum Dixon arrives at her doorstep.
The psychological thriller details Lottie's efforts to thwart the ever-stalwart detective from her younger years, Kenneth Burke. As the plot thickens and more characters are thrown in her path, asking questions, Lottie must choose how she wants to be remembered in her golden ones.
The characters are fully fleshed-out and the situations feel genuine. One finds oneself feeling the rollercoaster emotions of the aged serial killer, and even sympathizing with her when she must make a life-altering decision. The writing was well-organized and not too wordy, and the story seemed to flow well, keeping the reader engaged in the story until the very end.
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Marybeth T. (Bellingham, WA)
Another winner
This is only the second book by Samantha Downing I have read and I need to read the others. This was fun and darkly humorous. It wasn't really fast paced which I appreciated. Being a little younger than Lottie, I chuckled when she complains about all the aches and pains and the limitations that come with aging. This was a fun book and I'm glad I read it.
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Suzi S. (The Villages, FL)
Serial fun
Lottie is very likeable and entertaining, despite her admission early on that she is a retired serial killer. Her personality and wit are so engaging that I forgot I was supposed to find her repulsive. Well done! I did grow a bit weary of her by the end, but overall this was an enjoyable light read.
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Betcei B. (Huntsville, AL)
Serial killer's want normal lives also
How does a serial killer stop killing and live a quiet life? Oh wait, that's impossible because there is always one more that must be taken care of or something bad will happen. Lottie Jones is a character you know you should dislike, but her reasoning for her decisions makes sense in a way and you might start seeing life through her eyes and sympathizing for her. There are some hard sections to read, but skimming those to get to Lottie's life and thoughts is not a problem in following the story.
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Cheri M. (Rome, GA)
Great Twisty Fun
A retired grandma serial killer? Sign me up! Grandma Lottie comes out of retirement, so to speak, when someone shows up on her doorstep trying to make a documentary about her. It's crazy, yes, but it also hilights the aging process quite well. Lots of fun.
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Cheryl W. (Zimmerman, MN)
It begins again
A retired serial killer is approached by a reporter who wants to do a documentary on her. She wants to keep her past behind her and needs to fix the situation. Does she commit another murder?
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Nancy B. (Rochester, NY)
The Invisibiity Cloak
Sharing Lottie's invisibility cloak of a certain age but fortunately, not sharing her history, I am mercifully not haunted by the possibility of someone waiting to document a life-history best forgotten.
My junk drawer, filled with tools, has never looked so sinister...and the walk-in shower, so treacherous. And the murders...increasingly outrageous, somehow give rise to an inappropriate smile...but surely not laughter!
Initially a seemingly innocuous tale, the tension quickly rises as the bodies pile up and Lottie is forced into more devious methods to avoid detection.
How could a book about murders be so entertaining...and how could I be nodding in appreciation of this clever septuagenarian? I'm not sure, but I am heading to my library to find more by this clever author.
