Too Old for This by Samantha Downing is a thriller feat. Lottie Jones, a sweet old lady on Bluebell Lane—she plays games, and oh yes, used to be a serial killer
Let’s dive in.. what’s cooking here?
“Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases,
But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young.”
Genre – Mystery Thriller
Number of Pages – 400 pages
My Rating – ⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ ( 4 Stars )
Publishing Date – August 12, 2025
Author – Samantha Downing
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Lottie Jones hasn’t murdered in over a decade, but when a bright-eyed documentarian knocks on her door wanting to revisit her “wrongful” murder accusations from 1985, Lottie knows there’s only one way to keep her past buried. And let’s just say… she’s not calling a lawyer.
The best part? Just watching her commit crimes while having hip pain, zero tech skills, and the need of a cane she refuses to use in public.
Murder was so much easier before smartphones and nosy neighbors! How many thrillers have you read where the killer has to stop mid-cleanup to take her blood pressure meds?
Downing has dark humor, chaos, and a tender look at aging. Lottie walks a perfect moral tightrope—never too likable, never too loathsome.
“I’m not saying I’m too old for murder. I’m just saying I need a nap afterward.”
Negatives? The middle slows a little and some side characters deserved more development. But honestly, you can still trust Lottie with my tea… just not life.
Similar Read: We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
Spoilers:
Lottie Jones seems like the sweet grandma but plot twist: she’s a serial killer who hasn’t killed in over a decade. (She used to be Lorena Mae, got accused in 1985—but the charges didn’t stick.)
Enter Plum Dixon, a smart documentary producer who wants to revisit Lottie’s “wrongful” murder case. Problem: Lottie knows the conviction was definitely wrong—but only because she was the killer. To protect her peace, she kills Plum.
Cue the chaos. Lottie hasn’t kept up with modern tech, and murder cleanups are harder at 75. Surveillance cameras, smartphones, nosy neighbors—it’s a game over.
From there, things escalate. The investigation turns into a suspenseful, funny mess. Some reviewers describe a delightfully twisted “cat-and-mouse” thriller that’s as addictive as church potlucks and as sharp as Lottie’s wit.
One reader sums it perfectly:
"Did I feel she needed to be punished? I thought the ending was perfect. This was fun entertainment in a dark, twisted way.”
Also Read: Rose in Chains by Julie Soto
So yes—spill the tea? Lottie survives the initial fallout. The ending leans more mischievous than moralizing.
About the Author:
Samantha Downing bestselling author famous for her thriller books like My Lovely Wife, He Started It, For Your Own Good etc.
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