Review By Gabrielle
I’m Not the Only Murderer in my Retirement Home is a laugh-out-loud cozy mystery.
Favourite Quote:
Carol had never understood the appeal of crime fiction. She was like a footballer who didn’t watch football. Why spectate when you can take part?
Book Synopsis:
Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She’s hoping her past as a serial killer won’t come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it’s not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol’s true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward.
Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn’t the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it’s filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol’s guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong…without killing anyone, for once.
Review:
This book is so much fun. I loved the somewhat bonkers premise: after 35 years in prison for murdering seven people, Carol is out and ready to enjoy retirement. Except that as soon as she moves into her retirement home, someone ends up dead, and everyone thinks she did it. She must solve the mystery in order to clear her name.
Carol is an absolute hoot. I just loved how she sees the world. She still feels murdery sometimes, but she knows she cannot return to her beloved hobby, no matter how much she wants to. I laughed out loud so many times. It’s rather a darkly funny book. Maybe not everyone’s cup of tea, but I was loving it.
Equally fun are the other characters. Mostly, a few of the other residents who are also trying to solve the crime. We get some chapters from their point of view as well as some other key characters. It’s fun watching all these characters try to solve the crime. There are a lot of perspective changes in the book, but it doesn’t get confusing. My favourites are the other seniors from the home. I just love older humans, and I loved all their shenanigans in this book. One of my favourite moments is when three of them take the bus to crash the autopsy – comedic gold, if you ask me.
The mystery is a cozy one. There isn’t anything too graphic or grotesque, other than Carol’s jokes about death, of course. The mystery moves along at a good pace. It’s not a thriller by any stretch, but there is enough happening to keep the plot moving along. There are plenty of red herrings and twists to keep your interest.
Overall, an amusing read for cozy mystery fans looking for something a bit different.
Thank you, Berkley Mystery, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
