Retirement Plan: A Crime Novel

My lord how I adored this. I listened to it to and fro from work. I must say the reader did an amazing job.

It's not hard to imagine an older lesbian couple reaching their retirement years and struggling for their income. One is a teacher, the other a retired military nurse, and living on social security and non-existent pensions is a struggle. Pretty much the only thing they own that doesn't have a use - they've sold everything else - is a rifle they have kept for sentimental reasons.

And though they can't quite pin exactly when - or which of them it was exactly - the decision was made, they did indeed make a decision to make some extra money by offering their services in a growth industry: hired assassination.

These two wonderful old women are a joy to read - even though they're killers for hide (and at times even because of it). That they have a moral compass in play (albeit one that still allows their murder-for-cash solution to life's problems) is central to how they're still so damned loveable, and as the tale progresses, and their backgrounds, histories, loves and pains come to light, my affection for them only grew.

Counterpointed with these two lovely ladies is another woman, the detective who is assigned to the case when the bodies start to stack up. Her journey was also intriguing, enjoyable, and emotionally encompassing, and the last few chapters, when things start to grow very taut, had me very nervous for all concerned.

Can you root for the killers?

In this case, how couldn't I?

I was pleased that not only lesbians are shown but older lesbians were the central characters in this book. I enjoyed listening.

—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.

Interesting - fast paced - surprise ending.

When I found myself rooting for the "Bad Girls".

When the next door neighbor got shot.

Vic the bar keep.

Enjoy.

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.

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"

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.

I loved the lesbian community setting and the way these elderly women took care of themselves.

Maybe one of Carl Hiassen's books, though not as over the top hilarious.

I liked the killer best.

How are you going to live when you retire?

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.

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.