Retirement Plan

A Crime Novel

By: Martha Miller

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 9 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

What do you do when you fall through the loopholes in the system and all you have to rely on are your own wits?

Lois and Sophie have scrambled and saved for years, planning for their retirement in Florida. But now they've lost it all, and Lois' sniper training from her long-ago service as an Army nurse leads to a desperate career choice.

When Detective Morgan Holiday is assigned to investigate a spate of sniper killings, it's just one more stress point in her already overburdened life. But as she grows increasingly solitary - coping with an Alzheimer’s-plagued mother who refuses to be confined to a nursing home, and a police partner counting the days to retirement - she comes to realize that these murders may cut close to home.

A modern morality tale of justice, retribution, and women who refuse to be politely invisible.

©2011 Martha Miller (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Enjoyable

What's not to like? Likeable characters it was easy to care about, good writing, happy ending.

This is Fiction, for Sure!

The story plot (two female senior citizens as killers-for-hire) had great potential. The characterization of lesbian women as "real" people was well done. Bernadette Dunne's performance was quite good.

That said, this book was a less-than-average listen. . . it just never got very interesting. Too easy to put this one down and go on to other things.

And the ending? Fiction for sure, given that what the (I-think-I'm-a-lesbian) detective does would get her in big trouble, since her colleagues knew what was in her possession. (Trying not to give it all away here!)

Not a bad listen. . .but far from the best. Average.

Old ladies as hired killers?!

I really enjoyed this book and the premise is original. However, in my opinion, they went a little overboard with the lesbian theme. That said, I would read a sequel, if there is one, because the story is entertaining.

Hardboiled Lesbians! It's a whole genre??

This wasn't actually noir - though the small-city Illinois setting tends give the whole thing a greyish tinge.
I loved the premise of an older couple deciding that killing for hire (only really bad guys) was okay and I liked the details of the central family who have any number of believable struggles. It was easy to sympathize with them, Detective Morgan Halliday and the rest of the goodish guys. Bernadette Dunne was a perfect storyteller for this.

If Jane Tennison Had Been a Lesbian

—Take one desperate-for-money, aging lesbian sniper who needs to support her partner, and a lady detective on her trail.

Throw in a mother w/Alzheimer’s, a crotchety old PI partner who's about to retire, and stick them all in Florida. What could go wrong?

Miller has always been adept at questions of morality, and the world of women "of a certain age." With her sense of humor, mixed into an entertaining detective yarn, you can't lose.

LOVED IT!!!!!!!!

This was definitely a good story, had drama, action, and at times you will say "OH NO SHE DIDN'T". You got to do what you do to survive the corrupt politicians that don;t give damn about the senior citizens in anyway " I SAY YOU GO GIRL"

Engaging story

I enjoyed this book. I loved how the author had two story lines. It gave the story more depth and helped me connect to the Main characters. I must say, was rooting for Sophie and Lois all the way!!

Entirely too steriotypical

Would you try another book from Martha Miller and/or Bernadette Dunne?

Probably not Martha Miller, but would not mind listening to Bernadette Dunne read another book.

Has Retirement Plan turned you off from other books in this genre?

I don't much care for the steriotype that was portrayed. Also the good and "bad" guys, as three Lesbians? Nah, would rather have had a straight character vs a gay character, but their sexuality be a secondary theme and incidental at best.

Which character – as performed by Bernadette Dunne – was your favorite?

I liked the main character Lois, and Sophie second.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Rather disappointed. Expected to read a good novel about Lesbian women but got the steriotypes as side characters. Lesbians, where I live, do not wear flannel, ever. That is an OLD image that we have struggled to alleviate, but here it is again, portrayed in a modern novel. Bummer.....I did like the reader, and wouldn't mind hearing her read another book.

Exploitation

Any additional comments?

It is totally ridiculous to use lesbianism the way the author did. I appreciate the exploration of the heroine's sexuality, but there's no reason to exploit it by mentioning lesbian authors. So what if the character or author is a lesbian? Just write a good story and be done with it.

Adequate; but didn#t know it was lesbian lit

Would you try another book from Martha Miller and/or Bernadette Dunne?

nope

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Bernadette Dunne?

Th narrator suited the book, but I didn#t

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

May like it if you are involved in the lifestyle

Any additional comments?

too much time spent on lesbian lifestyle & not enough on the story