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A review by stephbakerbooks
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This book had such an intriguing premise—female assassins in their sixties who are suddenly being hunted by their own organization? Sign me up! However, the execution here left much to be desired.
First off, we have four main characters but we only spend time in the head of one of them, and I thought this really made it hard to get to know our characters. The other three felt interchangeable to me, and even the narrator didn't do much to make me care for her or believe she cared for anyone else. The present storyline is interspersed with flashback scenes, and I enjoyed the trips to the past, where we see more of the assassins and learn a bit more about their motivations. That being said, their motivations never get much development beyond "troubled childhood and recruited at eighteen." I guess I wanted a deeper introspection into these characters' lives among all the action, and that's not what this book is.
I read this for a buddy chat and during our discussion someone pointed out that this book might make a better movie, and I agree! I think this kind of story would work better on the screen. I lot of it was hard for me to imagine too, and I couldn't figure out if it was a me-problem or the writing style.
Anyways, I'd probably still recommend if you're into the premise, but I would just caution that it might not live up to the idea you have in your head.
First off, we have four main characters but we only spend time in the head of one of them, and I thought this really made it hard to get to know our characters. The other three felt interchangeable to me, and even the narrator didn't do much to make me care for her or believe she cared for anyone else. The present storyline is interspersed with flashback scenes, and I enjoyed the trips to the past, where we see more of the assassins and learn a bit more about their motivations. That being said, their motivations never get much development beyond "troubled childhood and recruited at eighteen." I guess I wanted a deeper introspection into these characters' lives among all the action, and that's not what this book is.
I read this for a buddy chat and during our discussion someone pointed out that this book might make a better movie, and I agree! I think this kind of story would work better on the screen. I lot of it was hard for me to imagine too, and I couldn't figure out if it was a me-problem or the writing style.
Anyways, I'd probably still recommend if you're into the premise, but I would just caution that it might not live up to the idea you have in your head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Sexism and Grief
Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy