Love love loved this book! It’s funny and witty with twists and turns on every page! One of the best I’ve read for a while 😍

A fun, lighthearted novel that serves as a reminder to never eat your partner's leftovers and to always be nice to dogs.

It was a perfectly good thriller and it hit the spot. I loved the characters, the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me engaged and the whole story was well thought out. I'm excited to see what else the author comes up with.

This was a thought-provoking and energising book that was hilarious, full of unexpected turns, and incredibly heartfelt.

The story’s location is intriguing, its pacing is excellent and its characters are compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is, I understand from the debut author’s own website, a project she carried out in the six weeks off she took some years ago in her fast-paced career as a Canadian television producer. I am sure other readers are equally glad, as I am, that she gave herself this challenge as the result, a hugely novel about what it means to ‘retire’ is now in front of us! The plot centres on a group of longstanding female friends who plan to retire together – but to do so, they need to divest themselves of the husbands they have slowly grown tired of. A big financial investment gone wrong and the unforeseen death of one of the husbands momentarily throw this female band of schemers off course, but they soon rebound. But perhaps the remaining husbands are pursuing a different, equally secret gameplan that does not involve their wives?
Despite the murderous game plans that are being hatched, elaborated and adapted here, the novel is actually a thought-provoking, often humorous novel about getting older, outgrowing relationships, and forging new plans. I particularly enjoyed the characterisation of Pam and the male characters and hope that Sue Hincenbergs will give them an even larger outing in a subsequent novel! I wish to thank NetGalley and the publishers for the free ARC that allowed me to read this debut novel and write this honest, unbiased review.

After a dodgy investment deal lost lifelong friends their retirement funds, and having led seemingly pleasant marriages, 3 women have decided enough was enough and they want that ‘fucking fantastic life’. Soon they become embroiled in an insurance scam, hitmen and explosions!

This book was full of coincidences and misunderstandings that were laugh out loud!

This book was such a great fast paced, fun escapist read and it would honestly been a hilarious TV or film adaption.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Everyone needs a retirement plan, but does it have to be as convoluted as this one? The four couples have been friends for many years, there have been money problems but when one of them comes up with a retirement plan all the problems may melt away until one of them ends up dead and the plan must change. The story was good, but the author didn’t seem to want to end it – when it had come to what to me was its conclusion another story started. It was as if the author thought, unnecessarily, that she had to tie up more loose ends and consequently a three-star rating from me. My thanks to Net Galley and the author for an ARC.

Loved the book! The dark humour in plot threads - provided excellent entertainment throughout. I read this book very quickly and was more than a bit sad to finish.

"Hectoro" - the man who does whatever needs doing - I loved the character.
In fact, all he characters were amazing - Padma was an outstanding creation. I loved her "inner voice" as she tried to impress her mother. Hank and Pam were significant too. I would take great delight in viewing the inevitable future TV Series. Netflix - are you listening?

Full credit to the author's creativity here. As the plot developed, I had to remind myself a few times that there was an underlying level of humour behind the scenes.

I would fully encourage anyone to buy and read this book. Totally outstanding entertainment.

Pam, Nancy, Shalisa and Marlene had a comfortable life until an unfortunate scheme led to the loss of their savings and the spiral down of their lifestyle. And sadly their husbands have become distant, and in some cases, unpleasant and after the accidental death of one husband the wives begin to wonder if life would be better without a husband, but with an insurance payout.

However, the husbands have plans of their own to recoup their lost savings, involving a local barber who can do a lot more for the right money.

There is a danger that the story becomes rather farcical, but it steps back from there and instead is an entertaining tale, a bit of escapism and offers a wry smile on married life and relationships. The characters, particularly the women, are well drawn and while the plot is a little fantastic, it is a good read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really disappointed with this book. I wanted to love it, it sounded amazing and completely up my street but it lacked everything. There was no humour, just sadness all around. I didn’t like any of the characters - neither the wives nor the husbands. They all sounded completely selfish, impractical and completely shielded on how the world works.

Their so called ability to jump to the correct conclusion over something so small (a letter and a bush being cut down) but didn’t know what either was planning or up to for 4 years is ridiculous. If these are supposed to be smart and intelligent people I don’t know what happened.

I hated the unrealistic element that they know one Salvadoran in their town/city (who knows it wasn’t confirmed) and it is assumed he is a hitman… basically racism from our grandparents time that is not acceptable now, especially for a book written in 2024.

Finally the Parma story line and her dating life.. pointless. For the amount of word space it took up as well I just didn’t understand the point of it all.

There may have been a satisfying conclusion but after spending 45 days trying to read it, I realised I was just wasting my life and didn’t finish.

This is a debut novel so maybe changes can be made or the next one will be better.

I loved this soooooo much!!!

The story follows three couples in their 60s who, unhappy in their marriages, plot to have their husbands killed after one woman receives a life insurance payout. They hire a hitman, but what they don’t know is that their husbands have been running a scam, stealing millions from a local casino. Now, they’re worried someone is onto them.

This book is hilarious, with lots of twists, quirky characters, and a fast-paced plot. I couldn’t put it down! It’s perfect for summer reading, and I can’t wait to add it to my shelf when it’s released in May.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

This was such a funny and entertaining story, it read like an old fashioned farce with lots of misunderstandings and miscommunications which kept the plot twisting and turning throughout.
Four couples in their sixties have formed a strong friendship over the years, but recent events have lead the wives to think they are no longer relevant in their husbands lives.
After Dave (one of the husband’s) is found dead it leads to the wives uncovering secrets about their husbands and vice versa. Enter Hector, the barber with a ‘do whatever needs doing’ side-line, and his loving and supporting wife Brenda.
The characters are well-developed, complicated and amusing.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I loved this book. A lot of twists and turns, some predictable, some not. It kept me reading until then early hours
ooking forward to the next book by this author.

Whilst the characters are a real mix, I especially liked the Padma a girl with a matchmaking mother,.

However, the story let me down with some not so funny humour.. Not for me unfortunately.

Thanks to Net Galley and Little Brown Book Group for the chance to read and review..

Really enjoyed this book, fun characters- realistic enough to be believable yet amusing too. Great narrative and kept me interested. Cozy style with warmth and engaging themes that got me thinking!!

Why is it 5 stars - because I want to discuss it, even after finishing it, and spread the word about this fab book.

Laugh out loud. Loved this book who is deceiving who and why, couldn't put it down. A must read book.

Hilarious, fresh and strongly Feminist- this was a triumph of storytelling.

I absolutely loved all the women interacting with each other and had no idea how they were going to get out of their predicament. But that's what kept me turning the pages!

In some ways it reminded me of Bad Sisters but it felt more mature, punchy and heart felt.

As twist after twist appeared I wondered about my own retirement plan.

Oh this was a fun read. It is so refreshing to read a book that has so many important characters, who are actually individual and don't blend in to one another. Each with a very distinct voice.

The four husbands have lost some money. Actually, quite a lot of money and although their wives are understandably not happy about it, they all still seem solid.
The husbands come up with a new plan to aid the Retirement fund that they lost but when one of the husbands is found dead, the remaining group decide to take things in to their own hands.
There are so many brilliant coincidences and mix-ups, that as the reader, you can't help but laugh at what you can see unfolding.

Lots of fun, twists, turns and madcap activities. I'd love to read more involving this group.

Such a wonderful book! I enjoyed every page. It must have taken an age to write as the plot is detailed, finely worked, a bit scary but most of all funny - perfect escapism. Can't wait to read another book by Sue Hincenbergs.

'Bad Sisters' meets 'The Golden Girls' meets 'Hit Man' in this darkly comedic debut that's cosy crime cranked up to eleven – with a side of leftover pad thai!

A riotously funny ensemble piece that had me laughing from start to finish and congratulating the author on the fun she must have had as each chapter took me somewhere I didn’t see coming.

The characters are brilliantly realised, each voice distinct and razor-sharp. I'm treading carefully to avoid spoilers, but trust me – the narrative twists and turns with such gleeful unpredictability that a TV adaptation feels inevitable.

Four couples in their sixties navigate the aftermath of a catastrophic investment scheme that decimated their life savings. The marriages have soured, but their friendship remains rock-solid. When one of the husbands dies in a suspiciously freakish accident, leaving his wife suddenly wealthy thanks to a million dollar life insurance policy, the other wives begin to plot – only to discover, too late, that the men have schemes of their own.

The characters are endearing and complex: Pam & Hank, Marlene & Dave, Shalisa and Andre, Nancy & Larry. Throw in Hector, a local barber with a "do whatever needs doin’" side hustle, a funny looking rescue pooch named Elmer, and Padma, a Mumbai millennial lady-boss battling her matchmaking mother, and you've got an ingenious heist drama that's as acidic as it is hilarious.

The dialogue crackles with years of shared history, the humour emerging from deep-rooted friendships that have weathered extreme highs and lows. It's a masterclass in comedy writing.