Group Read - Kills Well with Others Spoilers Welcome

[Ann]

This topic is for comments with spoilers ok for Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn. This is our August 2025 Group Read book.
What did you think of the book?
** Please note how far in the book you are when commenting with spoilers**

[Carol/Bonadie]

This came up surprisingly quickly in the library queue so I listened to it early in the month it's due.
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Spoilers (maybe) to the end
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I enjoyed this sequel to Killers of a Certain Age. It took me a minute to reconnect with the main characters (the four assassins plus their handlers/coworkers/partners) and I'm not sure I ever distinguished two of them, but did well enough to follow the plot. Lots of back-and-forthing, on assignments and escaping their own assassination attempts.

There was lots of action and travel. I liked hearing about their targets and how they figured out how to get out of jams. I wasn't sure I liked Billie very much, the main narrator. She's tough as she needs to be but I find her to be a little cold, especially with her love interest Taverner. But maybe it's unrealistic to expect a warm and fuzzy assassin, lol.

Overall I enjoyed it and will read the next one whenever it comes out.

[Sherry]

i finished it today and loved it. Like Carol, i kept getting several of the characters mixed up, but just went with it and kept reading. love how they always manage to escape the attempted assasinations on themselves but succeed in their missions. at first the flashbacks confused me, but once i figured out where the story was going, they made sense.
there were parts of the story that made me LOL- there was one instance where they were doing something (don't ask me what because you know i won't remember) but one of them said well, does that spark joy for you? marie kondo wants to know. they had been talking about marie kondo earlier in the story. you'll know what i mean when you get to that part.

[Sherry]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "This came up surprisingly quickly in the library queue so I listened to it early in the month it's due.


i'll definitely read another if there is one but based on how the book ended, i'm not sure there will be.

agree that billie was a tough cookie but i think she had to be. i liked how they all complemented each other in their skills.

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sherry wrote: "i'll definitely read another if there is one but based on how the book ended, i'm not sure there will be...."

That's interesting, Sherry. I don't remember the ending enough to know why you think that but even if I did, unless the MC was killed off or something I wouldn't count on the end of the series unless the author said so. I never underestimate the ability of a willing author to bring characters out of retirement!

[Sherry]

Carol/Bonadie wrote: "Sherry wrote: "i'll definitely read another if there is one but based on how the book ended, i'm not sure there will be...."

That's interesting, Sherry. I don't remember the ending enough to know ..."

The way everyone went off to different locations and when whats her name seemed to finally settle down (seemingly) with taverner made me think it was an "ending".

[Ann]

I just finished and loved it. My familiarity with the characters was enhanced by having read the first book introducing Billie, Helen, Mary Alice and Natalie just a week ago. No major spoilers on this post. The determination of these women is admirable.

Carol: I agree, Billie is a bit prickly, but she has grown on me. I will definitely read a third book if there is one.

Sherry: I can see where you might think the four assassins are truly retired after this book, and they may well be - but they do come out of retirement for this book. The Marie Kondo reference was a hoot, the comic timing was perfect when that question was asked, “does it bring you joy?” lol

[Carol/Bonadie]

Sherry wrote: "The way everyone went off to different locations and when whats her name seemed to finally settle down (seemingly) with taverner made me think it was an "ending".

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I see what you mean, Sherry. I agree with Ann that it is so easy for the crew to be called back from retirement (as they were for this assignment) that I didn't take that as a sign at all. We shall see....