A review by bleaksalad
Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The premise of Killers of a Certain Age caught my attention right away. Women in their 60s who used to be elite spies go on a retirement cruise only to be their organization’s next target? You got me. But then you lost me after the cruise portion of the story was over after the first 50 pages.
That aside, the plot here becomes incredibly predictable. It’s truthfully the same overdone story that every spy/secret organization kids movie is about. But don’t worry, if you don’t pick up on what’s happening immediately they explain it like you’re 5 years old for a whole 2 chapters at the end.
one of my main gripes with this book is that I had a hard time seeing these characters as elderly women. The way they talk and the physical actions they are capable of doing read way younger. I guess it also didn’t help that I was more invested in the flashback chapters of when they were first starting out as spies then the main timeline.
I also was so annoyed at the inclusion of characters Minka and Akiko. Minka is really just a plot convenience for the main gang (and her relationship to Billie is never actually established) and Akiko does nothing but exist (erase her completely and we would have gotten to the point faster.)
Overall, Killers of a Certain Age was a fun, lighthearted read. If you’re looking for literary genius, this isn’t it. But if you want a funny, girl power summer read, this is the one.
That aside, the plot here becomes incredibly predictable. It’s truthfully the same overdone story that every spy/secret organization kids movie is about. But don’t worry, if you don’t pick up on what’s happening immediately they explain it like you’re 5 years old for a whole 2 chapters at the end.
one of my main gripes with this book is that I had a hard time seeing these characters as elderly women. The way they talk and the physical actions they are capable of doing read way younger. I guess it also didn’t help that I was more invested in the flashback chapters of when they were first starting out as spies then the main timeline.
I also was so annoyed at the inclusion of characters Minka and Akiko. Minka is really just a plot convenience for the main gang (and her relationship to Billie is never actually established) and Akiko does nothing but exist (erase her completely and we would have gotten to the point faster.)
Overall, Killers of a Certain Age was a fun, lighthearted read. If you’re looking for literary genius, this isn’t it. But if you want a funny, girl power summer read, this is the one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Alcohol