Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn - November 2022

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

One of our winning group reads for November 2022 is Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn. Please discuss here and remember to use spoiler tags as needed, as everyone reads at different speeds and may start at different times.



Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that's their secret weapon.

They've spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they're sixty years old, four women friends can't just retire - it's kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they've been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They're about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman--and a killer--of a certain age.

[Corina]

Fingers crossed I will get to this one as well :)

[Karin]

I am now #16 in line for this--I think I was over 30 when I first put a hold on it. I have no idea if it will make it in time or not. There are a number of copies in my library network.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I love Deanna Raybourn's historical series so this will be interesting. My library hasn't got it but I put an order in so will be reading.. sometime. I'll follow the comments with interest.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I just finished this one. I really enjoyed it. I love books with strong, smart female leads that support each other. My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Corina]

Great to see you enjoyed this one, Kristie!

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

Thanks, Corina. I hope you do too. :)

[Corina]

Fingers crossed...It does look good and sounds like something I would enjoy :)

[Carol]

I’m excited about this one - have had it on my TBR

[Karin]

I just finished it last night, but haven't yet written my last three reviews (including this one). I liked it, but just at 3 stars. Looking forward to the conversation :)!

[Carol]

Just getting started - 15% in. Interesting premise so far.

[Jenny]

A quick read. We're not often getting assassins that has to deal with menopause and troubling joints. As a women going on 50 (very soon) I really enjoyed this!

[Andy]

started this last night, about 25% in so far, pretty good, hopefully the momentum continues throughout

[Teresa]

I enjoyed this book - not one I would have chosen for myself so I am glad I joined this book club.

I think the book started a little slow - the middle was fantastic and it ended a little too fast :). I would have liked to see a little more after the ending - the major issue was resolved but I feel like there had to be more.

Glad I read it! I also liked the strong female characters and there was just enough drama between them to make it believable :)

[Carrie]

Currently reading this and am really enjoying it. It seems to move at a pretty good pace and I like that it is being told in alternating time periods!

[Andy]

A real mixed bag! the story starts strong and I was really intrigued about the characters and how the whole story would pan out. The end sequence is well thought out and executed, it's just the middle of the book, it really runs out of steam for me, flashing back in time to fill in obvious plot points for later in the story, making it very obvious who the potential "bad guys" are. Like many others I found that aside from their names and a few minor details you didn't get a great introduction to any of the four main characters with the exception of Billie, and this sadly didn't improve throughout reading the remainder of the book.

This could have been a fantastic title, but is missing some core components that really let it down, quite a missed opportunity, especially when you can see the author has aspirations to turn this into a series, based on the ending.

[Karin]

Andy wrote: "A real mixed bag! the story starts strong and I was really intrigued about the characters and how the whole story would pan out. The end sequence is well thought out and executed, it's just the mid..."

Yes, it was disappointing--I have a few other beefs about it that are in my review but don't have time to re-type today since it's one of those days! https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Andy]

100% agree with your thoughts Karin (sorry don't know how to quote respond on the android app) the premise was great, the execution not so much. but I am happy to have read it, as it isn't a title I would typically pick up, and it's good to try something different every now and then

[Annie]

This was fun, but not as good as I hoped it would be. I'm glad I read it, but am not sure if I'd read more if this becomes a series.

[Agnieszka]

I'm so glad this book was on sale a couple weeks ago (or so) and I grabbed it. I was so happy to see its nomination and voted for it so I'm not sure how I missed the start of the discussion. I'll read the book next week (this one is booked pretty solid).

[Agnieszka]

Jenny wrote: "A quick read. We're not often getting assassins that has to deal with menopause and troubling joints. As a women going on 50 (very soon) I really enjoyed this!"

If you look for similar books I've read several of the Secret Agent Granny starting with Granny's Got a Gun and enjoy this fun cozy mystery series. The MC is a former CIA agent in her seventies, recently forced to retire due to age. Several of the age issues are good for some laughs.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

Thank, Agnieszka. I got that one to check out. It is free for Kindle.

There is something I really enjoy about this sort of story. I also love the Miss Fortune series. That one has a younger MC, but also a couple of older women solving mysteries together and it is really funny. I think I am in a phase of loving the mystery/humor combo and adding older women is just icing on the cake for me.

[Kelly]

I enjoyed this and really liked the clever ways the ladies used their middle-aged invisibility to their advantage. I liked the humor in the book too, it made fun.
There wasn't enough tension or character development to make this memorable for me. I would have loved to gotten to know other characters more.

[Delaney]

I want to read this, but it's sold out almost everywhere ;( and the library has it fully booked

[Carol]

3.5 stars for me rounded to 4. I am enjoying this new genre of the “seniors” solving crimes - in this case, assassins. Such a unique concept with this book. The characters just didn’t grab me like other similar books - just didn’t get into the depth of character. But a quick and fun read. Makes me wonder if this is the first on a series and if so, I would continue on.

[Storm Bay]

This was disappointing, but just good enough for me to give it 3 stars. Like others, I think the premise was great, but the writing just didn't live up to it.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

This book was nominated in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller.

[Karin]

Kristie wrote: "This book was nominated in the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Mystery & Thriller."

Yes, it was, but I liked something else better in this category.

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I didn't vote for it either, Karin, but I was glad to see it nominated. I actually read seven of the books in that category and thought most of them were excellent, so it was a difficult choice.

[Karin]

Kristie wrote: "I didn't vote for it either, Karin, but I was glad to see it nominated. I actually read seven of the books in that category and thought most of them were excellent, so it was a difficult choice."

I can imagine it was! It was easier for me because I don't usually read books the year they come out since I already have so many on my want to read shelf.

[Lucy]

I liked this one a lot! I think I gave it 4 stars? (I read it a few weeks ago). To be completely fair, I didn't have high expectations going into it. I just thought it was a fun, cozy mystery that's perfect for fall.

[PamG]

I actually read this in August and gave it 4 stars. I thought the characterization, world-building, and plot were good. If you like dry wit, mature characters, and plenty of action then this is definitely a book to consider reading.

[Keli]

I liked this one well enough, it was fun to read, but it wasn't extraordinary. Just 3.5 stars for me.

[Jess]

This finally came in at the library so I’ll be starting it soon!

[Kristie, Moderator (Retired)]

I hope you love it, Jess! Be sure to come back and let us know what you think.