Too Old for This

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Lottie Jones is a complex narrator, guiding us through her crimes with chilling practicality. How did your perception of her evolve throughout the novel, from the initial murder of Plum to her final confrontation with Burke? Did you ever find yourself rooting for her, and what might that say about the book’s narrative power?

2. If you’ve read other Samantha Downing thrillers like My Lovely Wife (2019), how does Lottie’s character compare to the protagonists in those stories? Does this novel fit with or stand apart from her other work?

3. How did knowing Lottie was the killer from the very first chapter affect the story’s suspense for you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The theme of societal invisibility, especially for older women, is central to the plot. Lottie weaponizes the assumption that she is harmless because she is old. Where have you seen this kind of age-based underestimation play out in your own life or community?

2. What do you make of Lottie’s fierce desire to protect her son, Archie, from judgment? How did this motivation, which is at the root of many of her actions, affect your perception of her character?

3. Archie’s decision to secretly install a tracking app on his mother’s phone is framed as an act of care, but Lottie experiences it as a profound betrayal. What does this conflict reveal about generational differences in privacy and technology? Have you ever felt a tension between a loved one’s concern and your own autonomy?

4. Did you find Lottie’s meticulous planning and to-do lists for covering up murders relatable in a strange way, even if the context is horrific?

5. Lottie is driven by a deep-seated rage against being dismissed or condescended to. How does the book explore the difference between being judged and being made to feel invisible?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. In what ways does Lottie’s character challenge the typical “final girl” trope common in thrillers and horror? By making an elderly woman both the protagonist and the architect of the violence, what commentary does the novel offer on agency and power?

2. The guide connects Lottie to real-life cases like Dorothea Puente, a grandmotherly figure who murdered tenants. How does the novel use the archetype of the harmless old woman to explore cultural biases about age and gender?

3. Kenneth Burke’s obsession is driven by a desire to “be remembered” for his career. How does his motivation reflect broader cultural ideas about legacy, ambition, and the fear of professional failure?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The narrative uses non-linear flashbacks to reveal Lottie’s backstory, particularly her first murder and the 1985 interrogation. What did this fragmented timeline achieve that a linear story might not have? How did it shape your understanding and judgment of Lottie’s actions in the present?

2. Lottie’s house on Bluebell Lane is described as a direct reflection of her: old on the outside but with “good bones.” How does the house, particularly the fireplace where she disposes of evidence, function as more than just a setting throughout the story?

3. Food and tea are recurring motifs Lottie uses to project an image of harmless hospitality. How does this performance create tension for you as a reader, knowing her true intentions lie just beneath the surface?

4. What is the significance of Lottie’s critical mistake of bringing her phone to Kelsie’s murder scene? In what way does this moment of technological fallibility develop the theme of The Frailty of the Body Versus the Resilience of the Will? How does it serve as a turning point for her character?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. In the end, Lottie avoids punishment and partners with Cole to produce docuseries about other “wrongfully accused” individuals. What do you imagine their first project would be like? How might Lottie manipulate the narrative to suit her own ends?

2. Imagine a short scene from the perspective of Lottie’s friend, Sheila or Bonnie, a year after the novel ends. Do you think they would harbor any suspicions about Lottie’s sudden move and the strange events preceding it, or would they remain completely oblivious?