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This is the thread for final thoughts on Killers of a Certain Age.

Spoilers are allowed here, so don't read this thread until after you've finished!

It pretty much turned out to be what I expected - a James Bond group project thriller, but with an all-female cast. An enjoyable read, but not much depth to ponder and analyze after the fact.

I did have a good giggle at some of the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ reviewers, who lamented the lack of backstory and character development. There is no such thing when it's men in an 80s type action story, so I don't know why they expect it here. Plumbing the depths of characters' motivations would fundamentally alter what the novel was meant to be, in my opinion.

Yep, overall I enjoyed it for what it was and I had fun with it. I liked Billie as our POV character(view spoiler)[ although I wished Taverner had stuck around at the end (hide spoiler)].

I definitely could see this adapted as an action movie or a short streaming series. It would be absolutely perfect for that medium.

Yeah, I thought it was a lot of fun. Good action-y story, I could also see it as a movie or mini series. And agreed, it’s action. You don’t need in depth back story and character growth out of this kind of genre.

Kind of reminded me of Gunpowder Milkshake with the Library and the Librarians checking out their books.

Let me know if anyone wants me to try to dig up questions for discussion. I don’t know how often this would be a book club pick, if some are out there or not.

Sheri, the Kindle edition I got from the library had some book club questions in the back. I can send them to you if you want them. :)

Oh I returned my copy already, I didn’t even check, whoops! Sure! Or feel free to just copy and paste done interesting ones here

Here are some questions if this helps with discussion, from the publishers website!

1. The Museum is founded with the intention of bringing justice to those who have never been held accountable for their atrocities. Is this mission statement fulfilled?

2. How would you characterize the relationship among the four assassins? How do they each fulfill their roles with regard to their respective talents?

3. Each of the four is recruited very young, at a vulnerable point in her life. How does this make them susceptible to recruitment? Is this ethical?

4. The foursome have spent their entire adult lives in the service of the Museum only to be betrayed by the organization to which they have given so much. How does this betrayal drive their actions?

5. How do each of the flashback missions relate to the current kills?

6. Naomi Ndiaye is a character who performs a critical role in the plot. How would you describe her? She allows circumstances to play out in order to secure the future of the Museum even though this puts the four assassins at greater risk. Was she right to do so?

7. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie each bring something unique to their missions. How would you describe them? Which do you relate to more? Which talents would you bring to a mission?

8. Minka and Akiko are strong supporting characters. How does this network of women hold one another up? How does Constance fit into the idea of women who support other women?

9. Billie keeps a secret safe house in New Orleans. Does this make her wise or paranoid?

10. The four assassins have to “burn� their real identities and start over. Could you do this?

11. Much of the team’s success comes from being older and therefore overlooked and underestimated. How do they use this to their advantage? What advantages did they have as younger women working in a traditionally masculine trade?

12. How would Billie’s life have been different if she had pursued a relationship with Taverner? Was he right to follow his dreams of marriage and fatherhood even though it meant giving up the love of his life?

13. How would you characterize the relationships the four assassins have with the significant people in their lives? Does keeping their occupations secret protect these relationships? Or does it prevent real intimacy?

14. What do you think is next for the four assassins?

I just ripped through this in a single day - what fun! Agreed with all your comments above that it's not the kind of book that needs character development. I always enjoy a book that alternates "present" chapters with flashbacks, and I thought it was an interesting choice that the flashbacks were in third person present tense - it made it feel like the flashback sequences were immersive in a way, like watching a movie or something.

I too wanted more of Taverner, and I also wanted to know more about Minka. I'm wondering if I missed something by reading too fast- did we ever find out where she came from and how Billie recruited her?

I realized I never posted anything here. I did finish the book quite a while ago and very much enjoyed it. Perhaps not quite as much as The Thursday Murder Club but it was fun.

The relationship between these women was a bit weird to me. It felt very professional but not entirely warm and close. They clearly trusted their lives to each other, but it didn't go much past that for some of them.

I liked the flashbacks and they helped establish what was coming or who they were going after.