If you are just building your Spooky Season TBR, this is a book that needs to be put on pre-order for spooky season reading!
Many Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the advanced Listener copy.
Holy Heck what a Ride!
This thriller surprised and delighted me all the way to the very final end where one amazing final girl is left standing. (there are so many candidates for this final girl, and you know I won't be spoiling this one.
This is a perfect novel for those who are a bit tired of all the 20 something protagonists! Set in a wrap around retirement facility in upstate NY, almost all the characters are well beyond 70, and most are sharp, witty and living the best life that they can within the confines of aging. That is, until someone starts offing them one by one. I mean, I don't think, given the title, that this is a spoiler. For me, I will say I expected this book to have a bit of a gentler edge, but it quickly became one I could not really listen to at home alone. Every time I'd glance at a window in the middle of the night, I had a moment of dread. Seriously spooky. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I suspected almost every character at one point in time, and the need to know propelled my reading. Towards the end I did "guess" the killer- but I think it was at that point that the author was directing the reader to the solution as I only had a brief satisfaction of realizing Ohhhhh, that's the one!
In short I loved the setting, loved the premise and the tension/mystery/suspense created by the author. Definitely a good one to curl up with as the leaves begin to fall, and everything turns pumpkin flavored.
January Lavoie was the narrator and was - of course- extraordinary. As my eyes are still not doing as well as I'd like, I really appreciated the audiobook. Of course, with a cover like this- I might need a book trophy. Maybe it comes out at the end of September!
First Published : 09/2025
Pages: 416
Available as an Audio Book :YES
Trigger Warnings: medical situations, drugs, alcohol, murder, elder murder, fire, references to domestic abuse
Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.
Thanks for this review! I thought this would be a fun one for my Grandmother, but, I think it's more for me. I suppose the gigantic knife on the cover should have clued me in, definitely not for Grandma.
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