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.

Rooting for the "bad guys" has never been so good!

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?

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.

Good story

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

A Fast - Fun Read.

If you could sum up Retirement Plan in three words, what would they be?

Interesting - fast paced - surprise ending.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Retirement Plan?

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

Which scene was your favorite?

When the next door neighbor got shot.

If you could take any character from Retirement Plan out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Vic the bar keep.

Any additional comments?

Enjoy.

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.

Don't miss this one

Where does Retirement Plan rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would put this in the top 10 of audio books, and I've listened to a lot of them. I like the book when I read it, but it really comes to life as an audio book. The narrator is spot on. Beautifully read.

Who was your favorite character and why?

It's hard to pick between the three main characters -- Morgan the detective or the two elderly couple, Sophie and Lois. Morgan's dealing with her mother's Alzheimer's disease is heart-breaking. Sophie and Lois as contract killers sounds outrageous, but their matter-of-fact approach to it makes it seem perfectly sensible ... like opening a vegetable stand to make extra money.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The most moving moment was when Morgan's new partner - the one she thought was going to be a sexist jerk - stood guard so she could come to terms with her mother's death in private.

Any additional comments?

This is a book that is meant to be read aloud, and this narrator does an excellent job at it.

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"

Entertaining commentary on our times

What did you love best about Retirement Plan?

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

What other book might you compare Retirement Plan to and why?

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

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

I liked the killer best.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

How are you going to live when you retire?

great story

I loved that it was not your same old lesbian love story, great combination of mystery and love . I would like to hear more

Funny and sad

Where does Retirement Plan rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

4

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. Wondering how many bad guys would they be, and hoping they got away.

What about Bernadette Dunne’s performance did you like?

She was fine.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The good heart's of the women taking in the unwanted children.

Any additional comments?

This was funny and sad. It made me angry what was done to those little girl's. The women did what a lot of us would like to do to the men who hurt children like that.

brilliant story well told with humour and facts

brilliant story well told with humour and facts great listen thank you for writing look forward to more stories from this author

You can't help but be rooting for them.

Without wanting to give the plot away, all I will say is I couldn't help rooting for them ... And along with the humorous way that this was written at times made for a great listen.

A fun tale of serious issues

Great characters with warmth. A nice story for time in garden or relaxing on sofa.