Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

53 reviews

xvicesx's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

It was alright, and the star characters were unusual, but it wasn't deeply memorable. Yet again, I struggle seeing the point behind the use of flashbacks, but that may all be down to the scarring I got due to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. 

Ultimately, it's a good book to read in the sun, but it won't stay on your mind because there isn't a lot to attach to. Yes, you want the 4 old biddies to succeed, but the closest we come to something to be invested in is the supremely layered love story that never panned out, which is realistic, but sidesteps that entirely necessary emotional investment from the reader. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gun violence

Moderate: Grief and Sexism

Minor: Animal death, Pregnancy, and Terminal illness

bringitona's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Medical content, Death, Body horror, Murder, Sexual content, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Blood, and Drug use

Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Stalking

Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Abortion, Fatphobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Trafficking, and War

ggcd1981's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Death, and Violence

Moderate: Cancer, Kidnapping, Blood, Excrement, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment

Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Confinement

chelbelle122's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Blood, Death, Gore, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, and Alcohol

itsnotalakeitsanocean's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Honestly one of the best things I've read in a long time. Is it maybe a bit predictable? Yes, but this book is proof that just because something can be predictable it doesn't mean it can't be fun.

I would have liked to have gotten to know the protagonists that weren't Billie more.

Also I'm still confused as to why Helen missed that shot in New Orleans and I don't think it was explained? I could be wrong but it still bugs me slightly.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Misogyny, Grief, Alcohol, Gun violence, and Sexism

Minor: Pregnancy and Cancer

abundance_of_fiction's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

 Charlie’s Angels meets the Golden Girls in this fast paced thriller. The concept was super fun, and -I don’t say this lightly- I would love to see this turned into a movie!

While it does have elements of a thriller, I felt that the humor of the characters and situation gave the story a lighthearted feel.

Honestly, I wasn’t too thrilled with the execution of the ending but between the concept and quirky moments, I really enjoyed this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Grief, Blood, and Gaslighting

alschneiderhan's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Enjoyed the main character as a strong character and older woman - most of her character development was seen through flashbacks, and I felt like while most tropes were avoided, there was one that did occur that I felt wasn't necessary:

she does talk about a guy that she fell in love with at first sight, but didn't pursue a relationship because she felt she couldn't have her career at the same time

. It makes sense based on the time the book is set in, but still. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Grief

Minor: Lesbophobia and Alcoholism

Mainly deals with assassins

beepbeep101's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Death, Violence, Blood, Gun violence, and Gore

Moderate: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Sexism, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Stalking

elizabeth_lepore's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Death

Moderate: Sexism and Grief

Minor: Cancer and Pregnancy

jhbandcats's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A clever and witty tale of retiree assassins who are targeted by their own agency for removal. People generally don’t pay much attention to old women so they can slip past unnoticed - a good skill for a killer. They’re always underestimated by ageist misogynists and that’s definitely to the detriment of the person making the wrong assumption. 

This book is a really violent cozy mystery - not very cozy at all but with cozy main characters, four women who’ve studied and killed together for forty years. We learn about their training and how it molded these women into such dangerous assassins. They’re comfortable together, playing off each other’s talents and covering for each other’s weaknesses. 

It’s very funny - instead of a James Bond sort of suave killer, these women are coping with osteoporosis and bad backs. I love their strength and resilience, but even more I love that they didn’t take any $hit from anyone. Definitely a hit book for older women readers!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Gun violence, Misogyny, Abandonment, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Sexism, Violence, Gore, and Grief