Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

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🖤 Book Review: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

Genre: Mystery / Thriller / Dark Comedy
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

⚠️ Spoiler Warning!

This review includes major plot spoilers, including the ending. If you haven’t read the book yet, save this post and come back later!

✏️ My Thoughts

Imagine The Golden Girls with silencers and cyanide capsules — that’s Killers of a Certain Age in a nutshell. This was such a fun concept: four female assassins in their 60s get marked for death by their own employer, and instead of going quietly, they fight back.

It’s funny, clever, and refreshing to see older women given action-hero treatment. There’s a great balance of dark humor and sharp emotion, especially when the women reflect on how easily the world overlooks them — until it’s too late.

I gave it 4 stars because while I loved the characters and tone, the story sagged a bit in the middle, and some of the action felt a little too smooth. But the revenge plot and found family vibes totally won me over.

📘 Full Plot Summary (SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie were recruited decades ago by a secret organization called the Museum, which takes out global threats (think war criminals, human traffickers, etc.). These four were the first all-female team and became legendary over their 40-year career.

Now retired, the Museum gives them a luxury cruise to celebrate their service. But it’s a trap — they’re being eliminated by their own people.

Billie spots an operative named Brad Fogerty, realizes what’s happening, and kills him. The four women scramble to survive and figure out why they’ve been targeted.

Turns out the Museum is under new leadership. Xavier, a rising bureaucrat, is purging "unpredictable assets" — and that includes the women. With the help of Billie’s shady ex (the delightful but slippery Vance), they go on the offensive.

They also connect with Martin, a former Museum handler now in hiding. He helps them uncover Project Sphinx, a dirty operation involving high-level corruption — something Xavier and other top brass want to keep buried.

Meanwhile, Sweeney, a trusted ally inside the Museum, becomes a key player. His loyalty is uncertain at first, but he ultimately risks his own standing to help the women expose the rot from within.

In the final act, the ladies fake deaths, stage infiltrations, and pull off a brilliant counterattack. They confront Xavier and his co-conspirators, forcing a power shift that leaves the women safe — and with more control than they’ve ever had.

🔥 What I Loved

  • Older female assassins as leads — YES. We need more of this.

  • The blend of comedy, espionage, and action.

  • Female friendship and loyalty front and center.

  • Complex side characters like Vance (ex-lover with a moral gray zone), Martin (ghost from their past), and Sweeney (unexpected ally) who add tension and depth.

⚠️ Trigger Warnings

  • Assassinations / murder

  • Brief mentions of torture and suicide

  • Off-page references to sexual assault

  • Violence (not overly graphic)

📚 Read This If You Like:

  • The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

  • Ocean’s 8 with actual stakes

  • Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

  • Dry humor and revenge stories with women front and center

🛒 Grab Your Copy

👉 Buy Killers of a Certain Age on Amazon (affiliate link)

🌟 More Like This:

If this one worked for you, you might also enjoy:

  • The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman

  • An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten

  • Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge by Spencer Quinn

  • The Change by Kirsten Miller

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