too old for this

by Samantha Downing

A 75-year-old retired serial killer who is forced out of retirement could be a recipe for farce, but Downing’s skilled writing never crosses that line. Instead, we get a surgical, darkly glittering look at what happens when rage tries to stay dormant. I read this book in two sittings. It really is impossible to put down. Lottie, the protagonist, has a quirky way of looking at the world that is both chilling and charming. She notices the tilt of a person's head or the inefficiency of their movement with the precision of a professional and Downing handles the beautiful transition from Lottie’s inner thoughts to her outer world with such grace that you almost forget you’re rooting for a murderer.

The writing, like the protagonist, is no-frills but beautiful. Downing is a master of economy—she never uses two words when one will do, but still manages to inject wry humour into a dark subject. The prose is lean, mean, and utterly evocative. The tension is a slow-tightening noose. I found myself in a moral knot throughout the entire read and couldn’t decide if I wanted the protagonist to get away with it right up to the final page.

Downing makes you complicit in Lottie’s survival, forcing you to navigate the blurred lines between justice and self-preservation. A masterclass in tone, proving that sometimes, the most dangerous person in the room is the one you’ve completely overlooked.