Book Summary and Reviews of I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig

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labmom55

Fun with a tinge of dark
3.5 stars, rounded up

I’ve been on a kick of humorous mysteries lately. Ones with a more sardonic wit work best for me. I’m Not The Only Murderer in My Retirement Home is the latest. Carol is a serial killer. She’s just been released from prison and is now happily ensconced in a retirement home. But one day, while she’s sitting out on her balcony, she witnesses one of the residents do a header from the roof just as she hears footsteps running away. This leads to her history being revealed and many of her neighbors shying away from her, thinking she’s to blame.

The book uses a third person narrative, primarily focusing on Carol. I would have preferred multiple first person narratives, but that’s a personal preference. The humor too often veered towards the juvenile. Many of the characters are cliches, as is the humor associated with them. The retired detective who has to tell the current ones how to do their jobs, as well as mansplaining everything to the ladies of the community. The current DI with a horrible sense of humor. Margaret, who is always eating and keeps food in her purse. Unlike the armchair detectives of the Thursday Murder Club, this group tends towards the ditsy.

I found it hard to believe a Home Secretary would be so scatterbrained. Carol was the only character I appreciated, because like her, bad manners and animal abuse make me want to commit murder. I am always reminded of the song “I’ve Got A Little List” from The Mikado. Turns out, everyone has a bit of a dark side. But at heart, it’s about finding friendship in our later years.

But occasionally, the author just nails the stereotypes about the elderly as when the retirement home insists on entertainment geared towards generations well passed. As in: “We’ll Meet Again” started up for the fourth time. I went to see David Bowie, thought Carol. Craig isn’t afraid to make fun of the genre, even making inside jokes. It’s an easy read with just enough dark bits that it doesn’t feel trite.

My thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for an advance copy of this book.

Mark_S1

A Murder Romp
A fun, quick tongue-in-cheek murder mystery dotted with humor. Great characters, not much to think about but a diversion non the less. If you live in a retirement village/home/facility, be careful who your neighbors are!

Mary_K

Murder, Mayhem, and a Memorable Anti-Hero
I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig was a fun, quick read with memorable characters. The mystery remains central to the story, while the character development enhances rather than distracts from the main plot. The book balances humor well and features an engaging anti-hero in Carol. If you enjoy a fast-paced mystery with quirky characters and a darkly comic tone, I highly recommend this novel.