Killers of a Certain Age, Book 2
From the publisher:
“Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner
Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.
After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone…literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.
Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.
Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.
“The Golden Girls of murder are back—bickering Natalie and Mary Alice, classy Helen, and, of course, ruthless Billie . . . In between the action scenes, they also snipe at each other in a way only lifelong friends can while also admitting their fears, such as pursuing relationships as a widow or the looming guilt of a mission gone wrong. Fans of the first book will be eager to return to this gang of kick-butt ladies.” —Booklist“Fans of Killers of a Certain Age will enjoy the return of the four senior assassins whose escapades from the past and present are intermixed in a fast-paced, humorous adventure. The books stand out for their wit and unlikely friendships.”—Library Journal
“Four talented assassins combine their skills in order to survive what they’d expected to be a peaceful retirement . . . Delighted to be back at their old job despite their bickering and squabbling, they relive past cases as they travel to several unsavory European and Egyptian spots . . . and end up involved in an art theft case that dates back to the Third Reich. A nonstop-action thriller that’s often disconcertingly funny in posing moral questions about the murder of horrible people.”—Kirkus Reviews
I was excited to dive into the second installment of Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age series. This thriller is the perfect blend of friendship, humor, tension, risk, and nonstop action. The story follows Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie, retired assassins who are pulled back into their former careers by the Museum’s new director, Naomi Ndiaye. The Museum is the name of this shadow international spy agency. A mole has leaked critical information, and the quartet must stop a killer targeting Museum employees linked to an Eastern European gangster. Former Nazis make an appearance as art theft is still a leftover issue from World War II that the Museum is keenly focused on, much like the Monuments Men.
The novel, largely told from Billie’s perspective, includes flashbacks to their past missions. Raybourn skillfully crafts dynamic, relatable characters with complex backgrounds. While there isn’t quite as much humor as was in the first book, the narrative remains captivating with its global settings, engaging characters, and unpredictable twists. The story explores themes beyond assassination, focusing on friendship, age, trust, and ethics, which add a lot of depth to the story.
Overall, Kills Well with Others is a compelling, fast-paced thriller that combines mature characters with plenty of action and humor. If you enjoy unique series with strong characters, this is definitely worth reading. I loved it.
3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS by Deanna Raybourn. Berkley (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638514. 368p.
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