Too Old for This by Samantha Downing @samanthadowning @samanthadowning.bsky.social @wileyvoice @wileyvoice.bsky.social @prhaudio @prhaudio.bsky.social #TooOldForThis

the setup…
Lottie Jones is living a quiet, contented life in Baycliff, Oregon. She’s an active member in her church with a small circle of friends she likes. That is before investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up at her front door, wanting to take her back forty years to the days when she was know as Lorena Mae Lansdale and was accused of murder in Spokane. Plum wants to feature her in a new docuseries about her having been falsely accused of murders. Well, time to come out of retirement.

the heart of the story…
You know right away that Lottie/Lorena got away with murder, not the reverse. Poor Plum should have used better judgment before approaching a suspected serial killer in her home, alone. That visit sets off a chain of murderous events that just kept coming. It was a unique experience being in the mind of a seventy-something senior serial killer. She still “has it” but isn’t as sharp and meticulous as she once was, leading to one more thing to fix and another.

the narration…
Elizabeth Wiley delivered a command performance, making Lottie sound not only believable but likable!!! Bravo!

the bottom line…
Yes, that cover and the author guaranteed, in my mind, a good time but this was next level even for Downing. She did it again, making me root for a diabolical and twisted character. I kept pausing and telling myself “shame on you!” but I couldn’t help it. Justified it somewhat in that most of those representing a threat had their own issues. Yeah, right. I challenge you to read it and see where you land. I couldn’t put this down because I had to know what Lottie would do next to protect the world she created for herself. Retirement my eye.

Book Info

• Release Date: August 12, 2025
• Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
• Audio Length: 10 hours, 50 minutes
• Publisher: Penguin Audio

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