What a fun read ! I found it a little slow to start and took a while to sort out the characters. I’m just sad that when it comes out as a TV series or film I’ll already know the twists and turns. Seems tailor made for a fabulous screen play.

This book was full of humour. Who could be trusted? What a tangle of plans? Far fetched but a good read. I really enjoyed it.

“The Retirement Plan” by Sue Hincenbergs is a darkly comedic debut novel that intertwines themes of friendship, marriage, and the unexpected turns of retirement. Scheduled for release on May 6, 2025, this book has already garnered attention for its unique premise and engaging narrative.

The story centers on three long-time friends—Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa—who, along with their husbands, have envisioned a serene retirement. However, their plans are derailed when their husbands’ collective investment fails disastrously, jeopardizing their financial security and straining their marriages. The situation takes a darkly humorous twist when one husband dies in a freak accident, leading his widow to a comfortable life in Florida, courtesy of a substantial life insurance payout. This revelation inspires the remaining wives to contemplate a drastic solution: hiring a hitman to eliminate their husbands and claim the insurance money. Unbeknownst to them, their husbands are concocting a secret retirement scheme of their own, setting the stage for a suspenseful and witty game of cat and mouse.

Early reviews praise Hincenbergs’ ability to blend humor with suspense. One reviewer describes the book as “a quirky story” that works very well, noting the anticipation of whether the characters would carry out their plans . Another highlights the novel’s “twists and turns” and its capacity to elicit laughter, indicating a well-crafted plot that keeps readers engaged .

Hincenbergs’ background as a former television producer is evident in her storytelling, with vivid character development and a meticulously plotted narrative that has been described as “an absolute scream from first page to last” . The novel’s film rights have already been optioned by a Hollywood studio, suggesting its potential for adaptation and wider appeal .

In summary, “The Retirement Plan” offers a deliciously dark and humorous exploration of the lengths to which individuals might go to secure their futures. With its engaging plot and well-drawn characters, it promises to be a standout debut in 2025, appealing to fans of witty thrillers and dark comedies alike.

This book was just FUN! To try and take it as anything more serious ...........................
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This was an enjoyable read, lots of twists and turns/misunderstandings. The characters were likeable although there were too many of them to characterize beyond things such as 'he eats healthily' - that seemed to be Andres only personality trait! The ending was a bit all over the place as well. I enjoyed the plotline but not sure i would pick up another one by this author.

The book was well written but I found it was difficult to identify with characters. In fact it was somewhat too girly for this English retiree of 68. It did not appeal to my sense of humour and I could not wait to finish. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to try a new author.

Sue Hincenbergs’ Retirement Plan is genius! A cozy crime novel interwoven with morbid humor - simply great.

Pam, Shalisa, Nancy and Marlene are fed up with their husbands. Ever since they wasted their entire savings on a failed investment, an icy cold breeze has been blowing through their homes.

When Dave dies and Marlene collects a pretty penny from the insurance company, the remaining ladies come up with a plan for their retirement. But they made the plans without their husbands, who also have a few aces up their sleeves…

I really enjoyed this book and can only recommend it. It is Sue Hincenbergs' debut novel and I hope that there will be many more to come.

4.5 stars

Sue Hincenbergs’ The Retirement Plan is a riotously funny romp, evoking the charm of an '80s rom-com where characters stumble through a maze of misunderstandings and over-the-top shenanigans. The story unfolds in a way that would make any responsible adult sigh at the sheer lack of communication - but also secretly delight in the chaos that ensues. After all, the story’s absurdity is its greatest charm.

The plot kicks off with a wild premise: what do you do when your husband gambles away your retirement savings and starts grating on your nerves?

If you’re the women in this book, the answer is obvious - you conspire with your equally disgruntled friends to murder your spouses for the life insurance payouts. But, as it turns out, the husbands have a secret plan of their own.

Throw in a sketchy barber with a thriving sideline in dubious dealings, and you’ve got the makings of a comedy caper that keeps you guessing at every turn.

The novel’s narrative style is fast-paced, frequently shifting points of view to give readers a window into the antics of both the husbands and wives.

While every perspective adds to the hilarity, Padma, the exasperated casino boss juggling her own set of challenges (including an overbearing mother), stands out as a particularly compelling character. Likewise, Hector, the shady yet unexpectedly nuanced barber, is a delight to follow through his misadventures.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance humour with a surprising depth of characterisation. The absurdity of the situation never feels forced, and the twists and turns, though wild, are woven seamlessly into the narrative. The story explores the messiness of relationships and communication - or the lack thereof - in a way that feels both outlandish and relatable.

While none of the couples are models of healthy relationships, their antics are undeniably entertaining. This is not a book to read for moral lessons or life inspiration - it’s a story for those who want to laugh at the ridiculousness of human behaviour.

This was a fun lighthearted read with more twists and depth of story than I had envisaged on starting the book. I felt that some aspects of the story line e.g. Padma needed more depth to feel truly relevant. Whilst not my usual style of book I would recommend this for an enjoyable and easy read and would be great for bookclubs.

This book was the perfect blend of wit and intrigue for my tastes. It had a wonderfully dark sense of humor that had me laughing out loud on multiple occasions. The story was filled with unexpected twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning the pages, not wanting to put it down. Overall, it was an enjoyable and engaging read that brought a lot of fun into my day!

I really wanted to like this book. At the beginning it started off well with a good amount of humour and real life issues. The characters were strong and the situation seemed not implausible. However, it quickly became a bit tiresome and ridiculously far fetched. Whilst I realise this was a humorous light hearted read, I felt it lacked direction much of the time. However, parts of the book were really well written. and really quite funny.

Such a shame it wasn’t consistent throughout.

For me it was just too airy fairy.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is an outrageously entertaining debut that expertly combines dark humor, suspense, and the chaotic unpredictability of life after retirement. A group of lifelong friends—Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene—find themselves grappling with financial ruin after their husbands’ disastrous investment scheme. What follows is a deliciously tangled web of misunderstandings, murder plots, and misplaced trust as both the wives and their husbands hatch competing schemes to secure their futures.

This novel is a masterclass in character development and razor-sharp wit. The alternating points of view give readers a hilarious yet poignant glimpse into the minds of every character, from the beleaguered wives plotting their husbands’ demise to the paranoid husbands believing they’re next in line for an untimely death. Adding to the delightful chaos are Hector, a barber with a shady side hustle, and Padma, a casino boss dealing with everything from embezzlement to her meddling mother's matchmaking antics.

The book shines as a dark comedy, balancing its outrageous premise with heartfelt moments that explore themes of love, loyalty, and frustration within long-term relationships. The humor is biting yet relatable, with laugh-out-loud moments emerging from years of shared marital grievances. Twists and turns abound, but the story never loses its core humanity.

Perfectly paced and brimming with tension, The Retirement Plan is a must-read for fans of clever plots and sharp dialogue. Whether you’re in it for the intrigue, the humor, or the catharsis of seeing midlife frustrations hilariously amplified, this book delivers. It’s the kind of story that begs for a Netflix adaptation, complete with a stellar cast to bring these vivid characters to life. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a darkly comedic escape into the absurdities of marriage, friendship, and the retirement years.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing an ARC of this uproariously funny debut.

5 Star review

A great entertaining dark humour story.

The story starts off with the loss of a dear friend following a tragic accident. The widow gets a nice payout and hits the "high life". Envious, her friends are not happy in their relationships and think the deserve the same. Not suspecting their wives, the husbands fear that someone is out to get them. So, they all end us hiring the same hitman to get the job done. After quite a lot of twists and turns, and lots of dirty deeds, this story was very intriguing. I could see where the plot was going which had me chuckling at times.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone that likes an exciting slow burn read.

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is a brilliantly crafted dark comedy that delves into the absurdities of life, marriage, and the pursuit of happiness in the later years. The book takes a wildly entertaining turn as three women—Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa—grapple with the disillusionment of their retirement dreams. When their husbands make a disastrous investment, their golden years look increasingly bleak. But when tragedy strikes and one of the husbands unexpectedly dies, the women’s lives take a sharp and unexpected turn, sparking a darkly humorous series of events.

At the heart of the book is the growing sense of desperation and betrayal felt by the wives, who, after discovering that their husbands have substantial life insurance policies, begin to formulate a plan of their own. The plot quickly becomes a fast-paced, tension-filled, and laugh-out-loud rollercoaster ride as the women consider the unthinkable: hiring a hitman to secure their futures. The humor of the situation is dark, and the stakes are high, making the story both thrilling and entertaining.

The structure of the book, which frequently switches points of view, gives readers an insightful look into the minds of various characters, from the wives plotting their next move to the husbands trying to navigate their own secret retirement plans. This technique keeps the narrative dynamic and engaging, offering multiple perspectives on the unfolding chaos. While all the characters contribute to the intrigue, the chapters from Padma, the frazzled casino boss, and Hector, the shady barber, add an extra layer of complexity and charm. Padma's overbearing mother adds a comedic but relatable subplot, while Hector’s seemingly inconspicuous role hints at deeper layers to his character.

One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its ability to balance the ridiculous with the heartfelt. The story manages to be both suspenseful and comical, but it also offers a deeper look at marriage, friendship, and the challenges of middle age. As the women’s plan spirals out of control and the husbands scramble to save themselves, the book takes on a thrilling, cat-and-mouse quality, full of twists, turns, and unexpected moments of vulnerability.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

When one of the husbands dies, the other husbands decide to run off with their stolen money before anyone realises the money is gone, but the wives see the insurance policy payment and decide to hire someone to murder their husbands to provide the money to set them up for a nice move to Florida. The trouble is that everyone hires the same person to get rid of everyone else. This is a fun read and just when you think you know what’s happening, the story takes a twist that you probably didn’t expect. There’s lots of misunderstandings and the husbands and wives all try to guess what is going on, but often it isn’t , whatever it is. This isn’t confusing as you read this book and you’ll worry about the casino boss Padma, who is not all she likes to reflect, but has her own problems as she tries to find the stolen money. While the story is both serious and funny at the same time, the characters are all well rounded and you’ll know them all as the story progresses. I found this story quite ‘different’ and will look for more by this author in the future.

A delightfully humorous crime comedy of errors and miscommunication.
Following the death of their friend Dave the three other men in the friendship group are suspicious that their planned retirement pot funded from rigging machines in the casino where Dave and another of the men work has been compromised. Perhaps it's time to disappear and lay low in order to save themselves. Meanwhile their wives see the life insurance payout received by Dave's wife and realise that they would be better off without their husbands (and all the things that annoy them about them). Can they all get what they want?

The characters are fun and (almost) believable, with lots of humour. it makes a great light read and could make a great film.

Oh my. This book was so absurd that you're probably going to either love or hate it. Really. I didn't know what to expect so I started reading it with open mind and the more I read, the more confused I was - it felt like western, like a comedy of errors, like a satire, where everyone just runs around putting themselves into more troubles and the coincidences just pop up like mushrooms. It was entertainingly ridiculous, though there were always more moments when it was too much for me, when it felt repetitive, when it was too much of "the wives" and "the husbands" and too many coincidences and hitmen.

The novels switches its points of view very often between rather many characters, but you will soon get used to them all. I actually enjoyed all of them - the most annoying was Padma for me, but maybe it's because I had a feeling she can spoil everything for the couples. Having said that, I also enjoyed her chapters - they were ridiculous, really.

There is a lot of humour in this book, even if sometimes it really feels too much, tons of twists and turns and you really have no idea where the author is going to take you, as everything was possible in this story. I might give it to my husband - he should remember that "happy wife, happy life" and what can happen if the wife is not happy.

I am not sure what I was expecting, but at first I was thinking "this is not it". Marlene's husband gets killed by a faulty garage door. Handy that he had a life insurance policy for 1 million dollars. The group of friends are in their 60s and the marriages aren't what they were. After the men sunk their savings into a scheme which went wrong, they have money troubles. The wives look at doing away with their men for the insurance money and the barber may be able to help them. The men also have their own scheme .
I found the first 30% of the book hard-going. The book did not engage me, lots of misunderstandings and it was all too B comedy movie like. Later, as the plot started to make more sense I came to like the characters more and was more engaged in the book. The explantions were a little overdone and there was a need to sew up all loose ends unnecessarily . An OK read.
Thanks to Net galley for the ARC

This is a wonderful inventive book, with lots of plot twists that I didn't see coming. However, I did feel the book could do with a final edit to make it a bit shorter, it did drag on a bit. All those lines where 'X gets in the car, turns left and drives to Y', can be removed and there a lot of those kind of lines. It's almost cinematic, but not in the right way. It iwll be wonderful when all edits are done though.

The Retired Wives' Club, follows Marlene, Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa—who are fed up with their husbands and lost retirement dreams. What begins as venting about their marriages quickly evolves into a tangled web of hitmen, insurance scams, and explosive secrets.

This one is ideal for lovers of lighthearted reads, if that’s you, this will be a great pick for your next read.