This review may contain spoilers.
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing is a fast-paced, darkly funny thriller that had me hooked from the first chapter. It opens with a bang, literally, and never quite lets up, even when the plot starts to wobble under the weight of its own madness.
We follow Lottie Jones, formerly Lorena Mae Lansdale, who’s living a quiet life in Oregon after being publicly cleared of multiple murder charges. What the world doesn’t know is that she absolutely did commit those murders, and more. Now retired, Lottie’s days are filled with church, bingo, and baking. That is, until Plum Dixon, a young and eager producer, shows up wanting to make a documentary to “clear her name.” Lottie’s solution? Kill her. Obviously.
What unfolds is a chaotic, often hilarious game of deception, gaslighting, and cover-ups. Lottie’s inner monologue is razor-sharp, and the contrast between her sweet granny persona and her murderous instincts is both unsettling and oddly delightful. She’s unhinged, manipulative, and somehow still charming. I found myself rooting for her, only to remember, wait, she’s a serial killer. A terrible one. But also… kind of brilliant?
“Judgment is one of those things you can feel before you know what it is.”
Thematically, Downing explores aging, identity, and the masks we wear. Lottie’s commentary on growing older: her aching joints, her need for hip surgery, her son’s questionable fiancée, all adds a layer of poignancy to the mayhem. There’s something oddly empowering about watching an elderly woman outwit everyone around her, even if she’s doing it for all the wrong reasons.
“I wake up with a bit of regret. And I don’t use that term lightly, because regret is one of the most insidious things out there. Arthritis is a close second.”
That said, the pacing did falter at times. The middle section dragged a bit, with repetitive police interviews and a few too many side plots, (blackmail, identity theft, wedding drama). And towards the end, I’ll admit, it got a bit too unbelievable, even for a story about a grandma with a body in the freezer. But I was never bored. Every time I thought it was losing steam, Downing threw in another twist.
What worked best for me was Lottie herself. She carries the book with her wicked humour, sharp instincts, and unapologetic approach to self-preservation. The writing is clever, the tone is playful despite the dark subject matter, and the concept, an elderly serial killer forced out of retirement, is just too good to resist.
“That’s the thing about anger. It doesn’t just sit around, doing nothing inside of you. Anger has to go somewhere.”
If you enjoy thrillers with morally grey leads, dark humour, and a touch of absurdity, this one’s for you. Fans of Dexter and Killing Eve might find Lottie a kindred spirit. Just be prepared to suspend disbelief and embrace the chaos.
“People say they want the truth, and they believe they want it. But it’s a lie. Nine times out of ten, if you know what’s good for you, the last thing you want is the truth. What you want, what we all want, is the story we believe in. And it’s probably a lie.”
Too Old for This is a wild, entertaining read that’s equal parts cringe and clever. It’s not perfect, but it’s memorable, and Lottie is a character I won’t soon forget. Hopefully she stays murder-free from here on out… but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Thank you to Penguin Random House SA for the opportunity to read this book.
Read an excerpt: Read an Excerpt from Samantha Downing’s Thriller ‘Too Old for This’ (Exclusive)
About the author
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A Twisted Love Story by Samantha Downing
