Samantha Downing, the author behind bestselling psychological thrillers like My Lovely Wife and He Started It, returns with Too Old for This — a biting, darkly funny, and unexpectedly poignant thriller that reimagines the archetype of the serial killer. But this time, our murderer isn’t a cold, calculating twenty-something with something to prove. She’s seventy-five, wears compression socks, and bakes cookies.
Set in a sleepy Oregon town and laced with Downing’s signature dry wit, the novel pulls off a risky, high-concept premise: What if a retired serial killer, trying to enjoy the quiet final years of her life, was forced back into the game?
Premise: Murder, Memory, and Bingo Nights
Lottie Jones (née Lorena Mae Lansdale) is living out her golden years in an aging house in Baycliff, where her thrills come from Thursday night bingo and church potlucks. But when young investigative journalist Plum Dixon knocks on her door with questions about Lottie’s murky past — particularly her suspected connection to a series of unsolved serial murders — Lottie must decide between confession and concealment.
Her solution? Return to form and make Plum disappear — literally.
What follows is a suspenseful yet hilarious descent into an octogenarian’s version of crisis management: wheelbarrows, vintage freezers, tea etiquette, and a serious talent for post-murder cleanup.
Writing Style: Wry, Lean, and Razor-Sharp
Downing’s prose is tight, brisk, and elegantly understated. There’s a rhythmic quality to the narration, and it’s told in Lottie’s voice — sardonic, sharp, and full of understated menace. Lottie is the kind of narrator who makes you laugh and shiver in the same breath. Think Gone Girl meets The Thursday Murder Club, with more menace and less sentiment.
Downing mimics the mental and emotional cadence of aging — the physical aches, the flashes of nostalgia, the quiet rage of being underestimated. But she wraps it all in black humor, letting Lottie narrate her own blood-soaked revival like a woman who’s simply too old to put up with other people’s nonsense.
Highlights of Downing’s Style:
- Voice-driven narrative: The story hinges entirely on Lottie’s first-person account. Her perspective is both chilling and surprisingly relatable.
- Satirical tone: Aging, motherhood, law enforcement, and true-crime entertainment culture are all subtly skewered.
- Lean pacing: Chapters are short, scenes are direct, and there’s never a lull, even when the plot slows.
Character Study: Lottie Jones — The Golden Grim Reaper
Lottie is one of the most compelling antiheroines in recent crime fiction. A woman of contradictions — polite but calculating, maternal yet murderous, seemingly frail but physically resourceful — she’s unlike any killer we’ve met before.
She isn’t merely a retired villain living in anonymity. She is a complex commentary on aging women and how society underestimates them. There’s something darkly satisfying in watching a woman who’s been dismissed as irrelevant outmaneuver everyone with nothing but wits, memory, and a chainsaw.
Lottie’s internal monologue balances existential dread with dark comedy. Her dry commentary on the younger generation, technology, and neighborhood politics is as engaging as the murder plot.
Other notable characters include:
- Plum Dixon: Ambitious, overconfident, and naive — a true crime journalist who believes her good intentions shield her from real danger.
- Cole Fletcher: Plum’s boyfriend, a surprisingly touching character whose dogged search adds emotional depth and tension.
- Detectives Tula and Harlow: A refreshingly competent investigative duo who bring procedural authenticity to the novel’s second half.
Plot & Pacing: A Game of Cat and Cat
Too Old for This cleverly flips the usual “killer vs. cops” narrative by making the reader complicit in Lottie’s crimes. We know she did it. We see her cover it up. Yet we keep turning pages, anxious to see whether she’ll get caught or pull off one more deception.
What makes the plot exceptional isn’t the body count (though it builds), but the way it dissects why Lottie kills. Unlike traditional thrillers driven by plot twists, this story is driven by character evolution — or in Lottie’s case, character reactivation. The suspense lies in the slow, inevitable return of her killer instinct.
The pacing is steady, with escalating stakes:
- Act I introduces the unexpected visit and murder.
- Act II follows the procedural investigation — a game of wits between Lottie and the detectives.
- Act III ramps up into psychological warfare, with Lottie navigating friends, family, and her own physical limitations.
Themes: Age, Identity, and the Ethics of Justice
Beyond the murder and mystery, Downing’s novel explores some surprisingly weighty themes:
- Ageism and invisibility: Lottie’s greatest weapon isn’t her history — it’s that people ignore her because of her age.
- The performative nature of justice: Through Plum’s docuseries and the detectives’ public efforts, Downing critiques society’s obsession with narrative over truth.
- Morality in decline: Is Lottie evil? A victim of circumstance? Or simply practical? These questions linger long after the final page.
Critique: Where It Falters
Despite its originality, Too Old for This does have a few areas that could leave readers wanting more:
- Limited flashback depth: While we hear about Lottie’s past crimes, they’re seldom explored in vivid detail. Some readers may crave more about her origin story or psychology during her earlier murders.
- Predictable midpoint: Once the premise is set, the middle of the novel unfolds somewhat predictably — covering up the murder, dodging suspicion, misleading police. Though done expertly, it occasionally lacks the shocking turns found in Downing’s My Lovely Wife.
- Supporting characters remain peripheral: While characters like Sheila and Bonnie add humor and warmth, their emotional impact is minimal compared to the protagonist’s rich arc.
Comparisons: What to Read If You Liked Too Old for This
If you enjoyed this book, here are some similar titles:
- The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — Features older protagonists solving murders with charm and wit.
- My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing — A twisted domestic thriller with marital secrets and murder at its core.
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman — Though not a thriller, it shares a deeply internal, quirky female perspective.
- We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper — For readers interested in how true crime narratives intersect with power and obsession.
Verdict: Downing Still Has the Knife
Samantha Downing once again proves she’s a master of the morally gray and the deeply unsettling. With Too Old for This, she trades in the sleek modern killer for a woman who’s seen too much, lived too long, and simply has no patience left for games — unless the game is murder.
This is not just a crime novel. It’s a meditation on age, memory, and legacy — wrapped in bloodstained plastic and tied with a bow of black comedy. It’s bold, sardonic, and just twisted enough to make you question what you’re rooting for.
For those tired of the same recycled serial killer stories, Too Old for This is a refreshing, thrilling, and strangely empowering entry into the genre.
Highly recommended for readers who enjoy their thrillers with a touch of dark humor, a splash of social commentary, and a protagonist who hides a knife under her knitting needles.
