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The Retirement Plan
Dark humour, dirty deeds, marriages and murder … the most entertaining crime debut!
Their husbands are driving them mad, and murder is on their minds … but the men have a plan of their own.
Pam, Nancy and Shalisa once imagined retirement would mean setting aside their worries, picking up their margaritas, and lying back in a hot tub. Right up until their husbands lost their life savings in a reckless investment.
Now, the men are on the wives’ last nerves, and collecting their life insurance sounds more appealing than growing old together. But enlisting the help of the local barber/hitman isn’t merely the most daring thing the friends have ever done - it’s also where the trouble really begins.
Because they don’t realise their husbands have some tricks up their sleeves. And there’s no turning back now …
From the first laugh to the final twist, The Retirement Plan is full of characters who will steal your heart while plotting their dark deeds.
Their husbands are driving them mad, and murder is on their minds … but the men have a plan of their own.
Pam, Nancy and Shalisa once imagined retirement would mean setting aside their worries, picking up their margaritas, and lying back in a hot tub. Right up until their husbands lost their life savings in a reckless investment.
Now, the men are on the wives’ last nerves, and collecting their life insurance sounds more appealing than growing old together. But enlisting the help of the local barber/hitman isn’t merely the most daring thing the friends have ever done - it’s also where the trouble really begins.
Because they don’t realise their husbands have some tricks up their sleeves. And there’s no turning back now …
From the first laugh to the final twist, The Retirement Plan is full of characters who will steal your heart while plotting their dark deeds.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
1286 people are currently reading
51533 people want to read
About the author
Sue Hincenbergs
2 books254 followersInstagram @hincenbergs
Sue Hincenbergs is a former television producer who has worked on multiple award-winning programs ranging from sitcoms to lifestyle. She oversaw the content on two national daily shows, including Canada’s longest running morning show before turning her talents to live music specials.
And then she started writing.
Her darkly humorous crime debut was acquired in major six-figure deals in the UK and US & Canada, before being snapped up by multiple foreign territories for translation rights. The film rights have been optioned by an acclaimed Hollywood studio with seasoned A-list producers at the helm.
The novel will be published across the world in May 2025.
The story follows three 60-something girlfriends who realize the only thing standing between them and a beachfront retirement condo are their bothersome husbands. So, they do what any disgruntled wives would do—they hire a hitman to kill the guys, unaware their spouses have already hired the same man for a job of their own.
Sue lives in Toronto with her (very much alive) husband, her scruffy, middle-aged rescue dog Kramer, and the rooms full of the stuff her three sons left behind when they moved out. Jack lives in Halifax, and Luke and Walker in downtown Toronto. The porch light is always on in case one comes by for a visit.
Sue Hincenbergs is a former television producer who has worked on multiple award-winning programs ranging from sitcoms to lifestyle. She oversaw the content on two national daily shows, including Canada’s longest running morning show before turning her talents to live music specials.
And then she started writing.
Her darkly humorous crime debut was acquired in major six-figure deals in the UK and US & Canada, before being snapped up by multiple foreign territories for translation rights. The film rights have been optioned by an acclaimed Hollywood studio with seasoned A-list producers at the helm.
The novel will be published across the world in May 2025.
The story follows three 60-something girlfriends who realize the only thing standing between them and a beachfront retirement condo are their bothersome husbands. So, they do what any disgruntled wives would do—they hire a hitman to kill the guys, unaware their spouses have already hired the same man for a job of their own.
Sue lives in Toronto with her (very much alive) husband, her scruffy, middle-aged rescue dog Kramer, and the rooms full of the stuff her three sons left behind when they moved out. Jack lives in Halifax, and Luke and Walker in downtown Toronto. The porch light is always on in case one comes by for a visit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,227 reviews
December 9, 2024
Entertaining and delightfully ridiculous. This book kind of reminds me of one of those 80s rom-coms where everyone is running around misinterpreting things and getting involved in ridiculous shenanigans instead of just sitting down and having a simple conversation. I mean, the events of this novel could have been almost entirely avoided if the couples would have simply communicated with each other. But I guess I'm kind of glad they didn't because this story wouldn't have been nearly as fun if everyone had behaved like responsible adults, so …
But, yeah. This was a delightful read. What should you do when your husband loses your entire retirement savings and then kind of starts getting on your nerves? And what if your best friends are in the same exact situation? Well, you get together and hatch a plan to murder your (not so) significant others for the life insurance payouts … obviously. But what if your husbands have a secret retirement plan of their own? And what happens if you all happen to know the same very sketchy barber with a slightly-less-than-legal (and apparently booming) side business?
This novel switches points of view frequently. And while I enjoyed the antics of the husbands and wives tremendously, I think my favorite chapters were probably from the perspective of Padma, the frazzled casino boss (of two of the husbands) with a very overbearing mother. Hector the shady barber is also a delightful character to follow through the story – perhaps there's a lot more depth to his personality than it initially seems?
It's almost impossible properly discuss The Retirement Plan without spoilers, but expect lots of humor and twists and turns and all kinds of underhandedness. None of these couples have healthy relationships and they all suck a whole, whole lot at communication, but their antics are certainly amusing and make for a delightful read.
My overall rating: 4.25 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 6, 2025.
But, yeah. This was a delightful read. What should you do when your husband loses your entire retirement savings and then kind of starts getting on your nerves? And what if your best friends are in the same exact situation? Well, you get together and hatch a plan to murder your (not so) significant others for the life insurance payouts … obviously. But what if your husbands have a secret retirement plan of their own? And what happens if you all happen to know the same very sketchy barber with a slightly-less-than-legal (and apparently booming) side business?
This novel switches points of view frequently. And while I enjoyed the antics of the husbands and wives tremendously, I think my favorite chapters were probably from the perspective of Padma, the frazzled casino boss (of two of the husbands) with a very overbearing mother. Hector the shady barber is also a delightful character to follow through the story – perhaps there's a lot more depth to his personality than it initially seems?
It's almost impossible properly discuss The Retirement Plan without spoilers, but expect lots of humor and twists and turns and all kinds of underhandedness. None of these couples have healthy relationships and they all suck a whole, whole lot at communication, but their antics are certainly amusing and make for a delightful read.
My overall rating: 4.25 stars, rounded down.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is May 6, 2025.
May 31, 2025
If you’re looking for a rollicking good time filled with dark humor and a cozy-ish mystery, The Retirement Plan is most definitely right up your alley. After all, from the quirky characters to the almost Thelma and Louise feel, there wasn’t much missing from this dynamite novel. Deliciously unhinged but also coming off as somewhat believable due to the realistically flawed marriages, the ridiculous hijinks felt like a game of telephone in all of its hilarious glory. The comedy of errors, however, only emphasized the brilliance of this satirical plot. Riveting, addictive, and laugh-out-loud funny, I quite simply couldn’t put It down and finished the book in a handful of chuckle-filled hours.
The special sauce in this sidesplitting story, though, was easily the well-crafted cast of mostly likable characters. With a group of Golden Girl-esque women, four clueless husbands, and even an adorable dog, there was certainly no end to the plot charging drama. Throw in a character you’ll love to hate and a couple who will make you suspicious, and you’ll surely be just as spellbound as me. You see, even the fact that they were all sixty-something wannabe criminals made this book utterly sing. Reminiscent of The Thursday Murder Club in many regards, I recommend grabbing this novel ASAP if you’re looking for some truly memorable personas.
All said and done, I’m now a massive fan of this debut author. After all, Ms. Hincenbergs delivered a group of morally gray characters who easily had me cheering them all on. And thanks to a plot that was the perfect cocktail of over-the-top antics, deadly intrigue, and gasp-inducing twists, I was beyond happy to ignore all of my chores—and even my family—so that I could read just one more clever, well-written chapter. So if you’re looking for a guess-proof storyline that will have you smiling with glee, look no further than this mystery novel. I mean, who could pass up a feel-good barrel of fun that was complete with the kind of women you’d want as your friends? Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
After thirty years of friendship, Pam dreams of her perfect retirement with Nancy, Shalisa, Marlene, and their husbands—until their husbands pool their funds for an investment that goes terribly wrong. Suddenly, their golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.
But when the women discover their husbands have seven-figure life insurance policies, a new dream forms. And this time, they need a hitman.
Meanwhile, their husbands are working on their own secret retirement scheme and when things begin to go sideways, they fear it’s backfired. The husbands scramble to stay alive…but soon realize they may not be quick enough to outmaneuver their wives.
Thank you to Sue Hincenbergs and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 6, 2025
Content warning: debt, financial crimes, death of a spouse, gun violence, mention of: homophobia
The special sauce in this sidesplitting story, though, was easily the well-crafted cast of mostly likable characters. With a group of Golden Girl-esque women, four clueless husbands, and even an adorable dog, there was certainly no end to the plot charging drama. Throw in a character you’ll love to hate and a couple who will make you suspicious, and you’ll surely be just as spellbound as me. You see, even the fact that they were all sixty-something wannabe criminals made this book utterly sing. Reminiscent of The Thursday Murder Club in many regards, I recommend grabbing this novel ASAP if you’re looking for some truly memorable personas.
All said and done, I’m now a massive fan of this debut author. After all, Ms. Hincenbergs delivered a group of morally gray characters who easily had me cheering them all on. And thanks to a plot that was the perfect cocktail of over-the-top antics, deadly intrigue, and gasp-inducing twists, I was beyond happy to ignore all of my chores—and even my family—so that I could read just one more clever, well-written chapter. So if you’re looking for a guess-proof storyline that will have you smiling with glee, look no further than this mystery novel. I mean, who could pass up a feel-good barrel of fun that was complete with the kind of women you’d want as your friends? Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
After thirty years of friendship, Pam dreams of her perfect retirement with Nancy, Shalisa, Marlene, and their husbands—until their husbands pool their funds for an investment that goes terribly wrong. Suddenly, their golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.
But when the women discover their husbands have seven-figure life insurance policies, a new dream forms. And this time, they need a hitman.
Meanwhile, their husbands are working on their own secret retirement scheme and when things begin to go sideways, they fear it’s backfired. The husbands scramble to stay alive…but soon realize they may not be quick enough to outmaneuver their wives.
Thank you to Sue Hincenbergs and William Morrow for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 6, 2025
Content warning: debt, financial crimes, death of a spouse, gun violence, mention of: homophobia
November 21, 2024
This was a delightful and refreshing read. It's funny, full of twists and turns and surprisingly full of heart.
The story has an interesting setting, great pacing, and the characters are interesting.
It was a real page turner for me!
The story has an interesting setting, great pacing, and the characters are interesting.
It was a real page turner for me!
May 7, 2025
4 solid stars - Sort of a “caper” type 0f novel - basically four 60’ish couples lose a bunch of cash, the men embezzle, the women hire a hit man, etc. Kinda gave “C. Hiassen meets Anxious People” vibes to me (IYKYK). Very entertaining, really wacky & lots of heart - a good debut! And good boy, ElmerDog 🐶 steals the show!
January 15, 2026
Twisty, turny, silly and fun!
Everyone in this book was an idiot except for the hitman and his wife. This was a dark comedy of errors, with twists and turns and lots of fun. Silly and cinematic, this was really good for a debut book.
The ending was hopeful and surprising.
First book in my reading Canada 2026 challenge. 🇨🇦
Everyone in this book was an idiot except for the hitman and his wife. This was a dark comedy of errors, with twists and turns and lots of fun. Silly and cinematic, this was really good for a debut book.
The ending was hopeful and surprising.
First book in my reading Canada 2026 challenge. 🇨🇦
Want to read
January 25, 2025“Three middle-aged best friends turn to murder in order to collect on their husbands' life insurance policies..” 👀
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & HarperCollins Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
✨Thanks to NetGalley, The Author, & HarperCollins Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨
May 21, 2025
So fun!!
For fans of Sylvia’s Second Act and Killers of a Certain Age. I thoughts the plot was engaging and really entertaining. I kept envisioning Diane Keaton and her cats of wild friends and it made it so fun.
For fans of Sylvia’s Second Act and Killers of a Certain Age. I thoughts the plot was engaging and really entertaining. I kept envisioning Diane Keaton and her cats of wild friends and it made it so fun.
September 28, 2025
**Updated review after finishing!**
This was my bookclub's pick of the month in July, yes I'm behind, don't judge. ;)
I had been anxiously waiting for this book to be released because the synopsis and title had me at hello! And it did NOT disappoint!!
Now, for younger readers, ahem, those of you not even close to retirement age, may not enjoy this book as much, but maybe you will? But for those of us who either are already retired (I may never be able to retire) or who can see retirement upon the horizon or those who have been married for years in the double digits, this is a must read!!
Not your typical thriller by any means, this is a unicorn! But a good one for sure! You have a group of mid-life 60 something, married friends/neighbors and some who are also co-workers, each with their own quirkiness and unique personalities. But, one of them ends up dead. Otherwise, this wouldn't be a thriller, right? The police call it an accident, but was it?
The widow of the man who dies seems to now be on track for living her best life, almost an enviable life to her female friends. She's selling her house, moving out of state to sunny Florida, because that's where everyone goes, right? She's traveling, looking fantastic, and they are jealous af. So jealous, that they too want to be widows. Well, I mean, maybe their marriages aren't so great afterall? So much so, they contrive to hire a hitman to kill their husbands. This is THEIR RETIREMENT PLAN!
But wait, there's more!
The husbands have their own retirment plan in play. They are up to no good too. I can't say much more without giving away spoilers, but let's just say, they are not the brightest bunch of killers out there.
This is humourous and heartfelt and just plain fun to read! I could not love it more!! I am loving this sub-genre of elder killers in thrillers/mysteries, it hasn't grown old yet. And like I said, this one is a unicorn. It hasn't been done yet! And it was done so well!!
Please, please, I beg you to give this a try, you won't regret it! Fast-paced, with twists upon twists, good humor/witty and just an all out good read!
I would love to know your thoughts if you've read it!
This was my bookclub's pick of the month in July, yes I'm behind, don't judge. ;)
I had been anxiously waiting for this book to be released because the synopsis and title had me at hello! And it did NOT disappoint!!
Now, for younger readers, ahem, those of you not even close to retirement age, may not enjoy this book as much, but maybe you will? But for those of us who either are already retired (I may never be able to retire) or who can see retirement upon the horizon or those who have been married for years in the double digits, this is a must read!!
Not your typical thriller by any means, this is a unicorn! But a good one for sure! You have a group of mid-life 60 something, married friends/neighbors and some who are also co-workers, each with their own quirkiness and unique personalities. But, one of them ends up dead. Otherwise, this wouldn't be a thriller, right? The police call it an accident, but was it?
The widow of the man who dies seems to now be on track for living her best life, almost an enviable life to her female friends. She's selling her house, moving out of state to sunny Florida, because that's where everyone goes, right? She's traveling, looking fantastic, and they are jealous af. So jealous, that they too want to be widows. Well, I mean, maybe their marriages aren't so great afterall? So much so, they contrive to hire a hitman to kill their husbands. This is THEIR RETIREMENT PLAN!
But wait, there's more!
The husbands have their own retirment plan in play. They are up to no good too. I can't say much more without giving away spoilers, but let's just say, they are not the brightest bunch of killers out there.
This is humourous and heartfelt and just plain fun to read! I could not love it more!! I am loving this sub-genre of elder killers in thrillers/mysteries, it hasn't grown old yet. And like I said, this one is a unicorn. It hasn't been done yet! And it was done so well!!
Please, please, I beg you to give this a try, you won't regret it! Fast-paced, with twists upon twists, good humor/witty and just an all out good read!
I would love to know your thoughts if you've read it!
April 20, 2025
The book follows 3 besties who decide to murder their husbands for the life insurance money. But, the husbands have a plan of their own 👀 It was the most absurd plot in the best way, everyone was misinterpreting things during every chapter which lead to some crazy antics. This was a page turner.
The book is filled with hilarious misunderstandings involving a handful of characters and multiple POVs. If I had to describe this book with a gif, it would be this one:
I do think this book should have been shorter, it started to drag on a little too much halfway through. I can totally see this being turned into a movie and I desperately need Lisa Kudrow and Christine Baranski to be casted as the wives.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Canada and HarperAvenue for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
The book is filled with hilarious misunderstandings involving a handful of characters and multiple POVs. If I had to describe this book with a gif, it would be this one:
I do think this book should have been shorter, it started to drag on a little too much halfway through. I can totally see this being turned into a movie and I desperately need Lisa Kudrow and Christine Baranski to be casted as the wives.
Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins Canada and HarperAvenue for the arc!
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆ follow me on tiktok ⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
June 2, 2025
Thank you to @williammorrowbooks #partner and @hincenbergs for the #gifted copy!
The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs @hincenbergs
Publisher - @williammorrowbooks
🎧Audio Narrator- Kiiri Sandy and John Pirhalla
Out Now
I paired the audio with the book and it was absolutely fantastic! This story had me laughing out loud with these characters and their shenanigans. The narrators did a fantastic job! There’s never a dull moment.
The story is about middle-aged best friends who turn to murder to collect on their husband’s life insurance payouts…. But the husbands have a devious plan of their own. What do you think will happen?
These women were a hoot and I highly enjoyed it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs @hincenbergs
Publisher - @williammorrowbooks
🎧Audio Narrator- Kiiri Sandy and John Pirhalla
Out Now
I paired the audio with the book and it was absolutely fantastic! This story had me laughing out loud with these characters and their shenanigans. The narrators did a fantastic job! There’s never a dull moment.
The story is about middle-aged best friends who turn to murder to collect on their husband’s life insurance payouts…. But the husbands have a devious plan of their own. What do you think will happen?
These women were a hoot and I highly enjoyed it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 28, 2024
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.
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.
June 4, 2025
Four couples have been friends for decades. They had hoped to save enough money for a carefree retirement. However, a bad investment doomed their plans. And their marriages suffered as well. Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa are shocked when Marlene's husband, Dave, is killed in a freak home accident (or perhaps it was something more nefarious). They are even more surprised to discover that each of the four men had taken out million-dollar life insurance policies. Marlene immediately buys a place in Boca Raton, Florida, with her newfound wealth. The other three women consider hiring a hitman so they too can get the insurance money and realize their retirement dreams. They don't know that their husbands also have new retirement plans, and their scheme includes hiring the same hitman.
After a successful career as a television producer, Sue Hincenbergs has written her debut novel. The Retirement Plan is a clever crime thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, given its murderous theme. The portrayal of all the friends was well done. Also enjoyable was Padma, the new head of the casino, where two of the husbands were employed. Her wealthy, overbearing mother with mob ties in India secured Padma her job and now wants her to find a husband. And Hector, the hitman, who also works as a barber, was the real star of the story. The book balances being a mystery thriller and a humorous story. I don't typically gravitate towards "cozy" mysteries, but this book sounded fun. It was. I found it very entertaining.
Many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
After a successful career as a television producer, Sue Hincenbergs has written her debut novel. The Retirement Plan is a clever crime thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, given its murderous theme. The portrayal of all the friends was well done. Also enjoyable was Padma, the new head of the casino, where two of the husbands were employed. Her wealthy, overbearing mother with mob ties in India secured Padma her job and now wants her to find a husband. And Hector, the hitman, who also works as a barber, was the real star of the story. The book balances being a mystery thriller and a humorous story. I don't typically gravitate towards "cozy" mysteries, but this book sounded fun. It was. I found it very entertaining.
Many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
July 1, 2025
There were moments of laughter, but overall it was a disappointing read.
I thought it would be like Horrible Bosses but it was simply horrible.
I thought it would be like Horrible Bosses but it was simply horrible.
May 22, 2025
I thought I was in for a good time. I thought I'd laugh, enjoy myself. The opposite happened.
The story, the way it's told, the characters, everything felt forced and like the author was trying too hard to be funny. That never works, in my opinion.
1,5 stars because of Elmer.
The story, the way it's told, the characters, everything felt forced and like the author was trying too hard to be funny. That never works, in my opinion.
1,5 stars because of Elmer.
June 2, 2025
What good fun this book was. Hilariously funny, heart warming and enough happening to keep me fully engaged.
It’s a story about 4 couples and their retirement plans. Things obviously don’t go as planned and lack of communication between the wives and their husbands mean that all sorts of shenanigans ensue.
I warmed to all of the characters, from Elmer the dog, to the barber with his side hustle, they were all extremely likeable characters.
When I first started reading I thought it was going to be a fairly standard chick lit type read, but surprises and twists and turns a plenty gave this book so much more. I eagerly await more from this author.
An easy and extremely pleasurable read.
It’s a story about 4 couples and their retirement plans. Things obviously don’t go as planned and lack of communication between the wives and their husbands mean that all sorts of shenanigans ensue.
I warmed to all of the characters, from Elmer the dog, to the barber with his side hustle, they were all extremely likeable characters.
When I first started reading I thought it was going to be a fairly standard chick lit type read, but surprises and twists and turns a plenty gave this book so much more. I eagerly await more from this author.
An easy and extremely pleasurable read.
April 30, 2025
This was really fun! Comparable to The Thursday Murder Club in that you're following a group of average everyday older adults who end up in some hijinks when they start getting involved in murderous affairs.
I loved the cat and mouse element to this story and all the little twists and turns the story takes. If you're looking for a more lighthearted, fast-paced, funny, compulsively readable thriller - pick this one up!
Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.
I loved the cat and mouse element to this story and all the little twists and turns the story takes. If you're looking for a more lighthearted, fast-paced, funny, compulsively readable thriller - pick this one up!
Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions remain my own.
May 5, 2025
This was a funny, darkly humorous, and fast-paced story full of twists and turns.
It follows four middle-aged women who dreamed of perfect retirement plans—plans that didn’t quite go as expected. Then a mysterious death changes everything. Meanwhile, their husbands have retirement plans of their own.
Overall, I found it to be an entertaining and engaging read.
It follows four middle-aged women who dreamed of perfect retirement plans—plans that didn’t quite go as expected. Then a mysterious death changes everything. Meanwhile, their husbands have retirement plans of their own.
Overall, I found it to be an entertaining and engaging read.
July 10, 2025
*Dark Humour*
This book was a welcome distraction to my life right now, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
We follow four women in their 60s: Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene. Their husbands, Hank, Roger, Bob, and Dave, are driving them to distraction. Due to bad investments, they all lost their money. Now, the husbands have a plan that they keep very close to their chests and refuse to tell the wives.
The women decide they’ve had enough of them. One of them describes her husband as a “lump on the sofa and a mouthpiece at the table.” Lol.
When Marlene’s husband Dave dies in terrible circumstances, the other three women are envious of the money and payouts she receives. There was a hefty insurance settlement, so the women hatch their own plan, unknown to the men.
We then see how a terrible decision spirals and gets a bit silly but still great dark entertainment.
This book was a welcome distraction to my life right now, and I couldn’t stop laughing.
We follow four women in their 60s: Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene. Their husbands, Hank, Roger, Bob, and Dave, are driving them to distraction. Due to bad investments, they all lost their money. Now, the husbands have a plan that they keep very close to their chests and refuse to tell the wives.
The women decide they’ve had enough of them. One of them describes her husband as a “lump on the sofa and a mouthpiece at the table.” Lol.
When Marlene’s husband Dave dies in terrible circumstances, the other three women are envious of the money and payouts she receives. There was a hefty insurance settlement, so the women hatch their own plan, unknown to the men.
We then see how a terrible decision spirals and gets a bit silly but still great dark entertainment.
May 16, 2025
"I hope his last thought was, Marlene was right."
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
The Retirement Plan is one of those absolutely entertaining stories that is ridiculously funny!
I also loved how I really had no idea what direction the author was going take this story next with various twists, turns and revelations.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Multiple POV
Casino Heist
Marriage Troubles
Friendships
Humor
Murder gone wrong
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Steady
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are looking for a unique take on the murder gone wrong trope with wives who have just about had it and an interesting casino heist, then you are going to want to check this book!
Thank you, William Morrow books for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆?
The Retirement Plan is one of those absolutely entertaining stories that is ridiculously funny!
I also loved how I really had no idea what direction the author was going take this story next with various twists, turns and revelations.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
Multiple POV
Casino Heist
Marriage Troubles
Friendships
Humor
Murder gone wrong
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲?
Steady
𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸?
If you are looking for a unique take on the murder gone wrong trope with wives who have just about had it and an interesting casino heist, then you are going to want to check this book!
Thank you, William Morrow books for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
April 24, 2025
I needed something light and fun, and since THE RETIREMENT PLAN is marketed as “darkly funny,” I thought it would be the perfect fit. I was mistaken.
Okay, so the story started out fun. We have four older couples who are all at a sort of crossroads in their relationships.
But I quickly lost the humor. In fact, I often felt sad.
The story relies on pitting the husbands and wives against each other. None of these couples had actual conversations. Ever. One honest conversation between any one of these couples would have prevented the entire mess of a story from happening.
This could have worked, maybe, if the female friendships had at least been supportive. Yet these women, close for decades, also didn’t have any important conversations. Then they made an incredibly rash, extreme decision over a five-minute complaint session.
And greed. Lots of greed, everywhere.
We have a huge cast of characters with a whole lot going on. It’s over the top, overly complicated, and ridiculous.
But this is just my opinion. You might be among those who love this one.
*Thanks to William Morrow for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
Okay, so the story started out fun. We have four older couples who are all at a sort of crossroads in their relationships.
But I quickly lost the humor. In fact, I often felt sad.
The story relies on pitting the husbands and wives against each other. None of these couples had actual conversations. Ever. One honest conversation between any one of these couples would have prevented the entire mess of a story from happening.
This could have worked, maybe, if the female friendships had at least been supportive. Yet these women, close for decades, also didn’t have any important conversations. Then they made an incredibly rash, extreme decision over a five-minute complaint session.
And greed. Lots of greed, everywhere.
We have a huge cast of characters with a whole lot going on. It’s over the top, overly complicated, and ridiculous.
But this is just my opinion. You might be among those who love this one.
*Thanks to William Morrow for the free eARC, provided via NetGalley.*
October 14, 2024
4.5 stars from me.
A highly entertaining story of marital misunderstandings and miscommunication between four sets of friends. Pam, Nancy, Shalisa and Marlene were on track for a wonderful retirement until their husbands lost their savings in a dodgy investment deal. When Marlene's husband Dave dies, they find out their husbands each have a million dollar life insurance deal - the only thing standing inbetween the women and $1,000,000 is their husbands. They start plotting a hit on the husbands - but in the meantime the husbands are hatching their own money making schemes.
Lots of wild misunderstandings and unintended consequences make this a very entertaining read!
A highly entertaining story of marital misunderstandings and miscommunication between four sets of friends. Pam, Nancy, Shalisa and Marlene were on track for a wonderful retirement until their husbands lost their savings in a dodgy investment deal. When Marlene's husband Dave dies, they find out their husbands each have a million dollar life insurance deal - the only thing standing inbetween the women and $1,000,000 is their husbands. They start plotting a hit on the husbands - but in the meantime the husbands are hatching their own money making schemes.
Lots of wild misunderstandings and unintended consequences make this a very entertaining read!
June 10, 2025
I was reluctantly charmed by this novel. I went into it in a bad mood. It was due at the library in days and couldn't be renewed. I hate reading under pressure, so I was pissy about it. But the further I read, the more forgiving I got, because Hincenbergs has written a clever and amusing story that is not really a mystery, but has some great twists and turns nevertheless.
Four couples, all alike in financial difficulties, in trouble where we lay our scene. Four years ago, one of the husbands got suckered by an investment scheme and took the other three along for the debacle. Since then, they have schemed to replace that retirement nest egg. Now Dave, the casino machine technician, has been found dead with a thousand dollar casino chip on his chest. The men panic, thinking he was killed in an Indian mafia style hit because Dave's way of funneling money out of the casino has been revealed. They must disappear and they know just who can help them—their barber, Hector who has a reputation for getting things done. Meanwhile, the wives realize that Dave's wife, Marlene, is now enjoying a large insurance payout and all that stands between them and financial comfort is their husbands. And they know just who to consult about that problem—their husbands' barber, Hector.
Add to the pot the young woman newly in charge of the casino, Padma. I had to reluctantly empathize with her, as she is completely out of her depth. Never in the top percentile in her business courses, she is clueless about the running of the casino. Hank, one of the scheming husbands, actually does the work of scheduling, hiring and firing. Padma also has a domineering mother who is determined to marry her off advantageously and who criticises everything about her daughter. Padma has no social skills, no ability to read a room, a crushing inferiority complex, and really sore feet from wearing the highest heels possible.
Hector is obviously very involved in the action and soon his wife Brenda is head of security at the casino. This adds to the mayhem. It's a comedy of errors with assassins. Not quite slapstick, but close. Every time the characters turn around, there's a new situation to be dealt with. How could I not be charmed by this dark humour?
If you're staring at retirement and thinking that you could use just a bit more cash, give this book a spin. It'll keep you on the straight and narrow.
Four couples, all alike in financial difficulties, in trouble where we lay our scene. Four years ago, one of the husbands got suckered by an investment scheme and took the other three along for the debacle. Since then, they have schemed to replace that retirement nest egg. Now Dave, the casino machine technician, has been found dead with a thousand dollar casino chip on his chest. The men panic, thinking he was killed in an Indian mafia style hit because Dave's way of funneling money out of the casino has been revealed. They must disappear and they know just who can help them—their barber, Hector who has a reputation for getting things done. Meanwhile, the wives realize that Dave's wife, Marlene, is now enjoying a large insurance payout and all that stands between them and financial comfort is their husbands. And they know just who to consult about that problem—their husbands' barber, Hector.
Add to the pot the young woman newly in charge of the casino, Padma. I had to reluctantly empathize with her, as she is completely out of her depth. Never in the top percentile in her business courses, she is clueless about the running of the casino. Hank, one of the scheming husbands, actually does the work of scheduling, hiring and firing. Padma also has a domineering mother who is determined to marry her off advantageously and who criticises everything about her daughter. Padma has no social skills, no ability to read a room, a crushing inferiority complex, and really sore feet from wearing the highest heels possible.
Hector is obviously very involved in the action and soon his wife Brenda is head of security at the casino. This adds to the mayhem. It's a comedy of errors with assassins. Not quite slapstick, but close. Every time the characters turn around, there's a new situation to be dealt with. How could I not be charmed by this dark humour?
If you're staring at retirement and thinking that you could use just a bit more cash, give this book a spin. It'll keep you on the straight and narrow.
February 6, 2025
I received a free copy of, The Retirement Plan, by Sue Hincenbergs, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Husbands and wives are keeping secret plans from each other with, deadly consequences. An interesting read.
December 27, 2024
Thank you to William Morrow and Harper Collins for making my holidays with a gifted Advanced Readers Copy of The Retirement Plan!
The summary of this book says it all. It is accurate, so I don't know why I expected something different. There is too much going on in this book, and it doesn't make sense anyway. It is overly silly and complicated. I expected a fun friendship book, like The Golden Girls, but instead I get a "cozy"- but not a mystery, more of a crime/mafia book. Wives have a murder for hire plot on their husbands, the husbands have a hit out on their murders, meanwhile there is a casino and crime family and an Indian matchmaker, and ambitious women trying to make it in the business world. It's just too over the top to be enjoyable. Then the end tries to wrap up with life lessons. I will qualify my review in saying this is not normally the type of book I read, but even so, I can occasionally get into a cozy mystery or fluff book. This was neither, and not done well.
The author's notes in the back say she tried 198 times to get the book published. I admire her tenacity, but my advice is to try again.
The summary of this book says it all. It is accurate, so I don't know why I expected something different. There is too much going on in this book, and it doesn't make sense anyway. It is overly silly and complicated. I expected a fun friendship book, like The Golden Girls, but instead I get a "cozy"- but not a mystery, more of a crime/mafia book. Wives have a murder for hire plot on their husbands, the husbands have a hit out on their murders, meanwhile there is a casino and crime family and an Indian matchmaker, and ambitious women trying to make it in the business world. It's just too over the top to be enjoyable. Then the end tries to wrap up with life lessons. I will qualify my review in saying this is not normally the type of book I read, but even so, I can occasionally get into a cozy mystery or fluff book. This was neither, and not done well.
The author's notes in the back say she tried 198 times to get the book published. I admire her tenacity, but my advice is to try again.
June 26, 2025
I listened to The Retirement Plan on audio and omg, I absolutely loved it!
It tells the story of three women (assumingly in their 60s) whose husbands have lost their entire savings in an investment gone wrong. On discovering that the three husbands each have a million dollar life insurance policy, the three women plot together to have them all killed. However, unbeknown to them, the husbands have a devious plot of their own.
Sue Hincenbergs spins a fabulously funny tale, narrated brilliantly in the main by Kiiri Sandy. I found myself literally laughing out loud whilst out walking. There are plot twists galore that found me snorting and the wonderful character of Hector (the man who does what needs to be done). And let's not forget that these three women do not have a clue how to plot to kill their husbands!
The Retirement Plan is both outrageous and clever, and a perfect fit for audio. If you're looking for something that will have you chuckling and smiling, with a little romance thrown in, then The Retirement Plan is for you and if you are an audiobook fan, I recommend you go for that option. SUPERB!
It tells the story of three women (assumingly in their 60s) whose husbands have lost their entire savings in an investment gone wrong. On discovering that the three husbands each have a million dollar life insurance policy, the three women plot together to have them all killed. However, unbeknown to them, the husbands have a devious plot of their own.
Sue Hincenbergs spins a fabulously funny tale, narrated brilliantly in the main by Kiiri Sandy. I found myself literally laughing out loud whilst out walking. There are plot twists galore that found me snorting and the wonderful character of Hector (the man who does what needs to be done). And let's not forget that these three women do not have a clue how to plot to kill their husbands!
The Retirement Plan is both outrageous and clever, and a perfect fit for audio. If you're looking for something that will have you chuckling and smiling, with a little romance thrown in, then The Retirement Plan is for you and if you are an audiobook fan, I recommend you go for that option. SUPERB!
May 23, 2025
I DNF about halfway into the book... I honestly tried so hard to like this, but it was just so boring. And the characters were not memorable at all, so even halfway through the book, I kept getting confused on who’s who and who is married to who, haha. This writing style just wasn’t really for me.
I feel like this book had potential too, based on the synopsis and fun looking cover lol.
I feel like this book had potential too, based on the synopsis and fun looking cover lol.
May 12, 2025
An adventurous cozy mystery in the style of Oceans 11, but with 60 something couples. When Marlene’s husband dies after being crushed by his garage door, she gets a big million dollar payout. Her 3 friends find out that their husbands also have this policy, and this gets them thinking that they should stage an accident! But little do they know that their husbands have been stealing money from the casino for the last 4 years. The casino recently has been taken over by a new company and they have a new owner, Padma.
There are a lot of characters in this book but it isn’t hard AT ALL to keep them straight. Something about the way that it is paced and structured makes it very easy to remember. There are many multiple POV and it is a huge ensemble cast. This one took me a few chapters to get into- I thought it was a bit morbid to be considered a cozy mystery, but this does turn around about a third of the way through the narrative. The characters are a bit morally grey, but not reprehensible and ultimately they aren’t unlikable.
And just when I got the sense that this would be a great movie, and started casting it in my head, the book casts it for you on page 233! I won’t spoil the cast but it is perfect.
My favorite character was Pam!
There are a lot of characters in this book but it isn’t hard AT ALL to keep them straight. Something about the way that it is paced and structured makes it very easy to remember. There are many multiple POV and it is a huge ensemble cast. This one took me a few chapters to get into- I thought it was a bit morbid to be considered a cozy mystery, but this does turn around about a third of the way through the narrative. The characters are a bit morally grey, but not reprehensible and ultimately they aren’t unlikable.
And just when I got the sense that this would be a great movie, and started casting it in my head, the book casts it for you on page 233! I won’t spoil the cast but it is perfect.
My favorite character was Pam!
June 8, 2025
this was a silly, goofy time except for all the moments i’d remember how upset i would be if my spouse ordered a hit on me because i was vaguely annoying
that was indeed the entire premise of the book though, so i can’t say i wasn’t warned
2.5 rounded up
thank you to libro.fm for this alc!
that was indeed the entire premise of the book though, so i can’t say i wasn’t warned
2.5 rounded up
thank you to libro.fm for this alc!
May 22, 2025
The plot of this book is strong. Three women collaborating to cash in life insurance policies after seeing their friend receive a million dollars after her husband’s death. Thus begins the shenanigans.
There’s so much going on all at once in this book. There is the base story, which is interesting enough. Where the plot starts unraveling is when we told back stories of each of the characters. It’s too much. It takes away from the story.
I saw the author is a producer and has worked in the film industry. That makes sense. This book will make a great limited series. If each character is given an episode to contribute to the finale.
As a book, it’s too convoluted. There are too many tangents which are not relevant to the actual story. It makes the story drag on.
These golden girl type friends are strong enough to carry this story. Add the husbands to this motley crew, you get comedy. But everything else dilutes the plot.
There’s so much going on all at once in this book. There is the base story, which is interesting enough. Where the plot starts unraveling is when we told back stories of each of the characters. It’s too much. It takes away from the story.
I saw the author is a producer and has worked in the film industry. That makes sense. This book will make a great limited series. If each character is given an episode to contribute to the finale.
As a book, it’s too convoluted. There are too many tangents which are not relevant to the actual story. It makes the story drag on.
These golden girl type friends are strong enough to carry this story. Add the husbands to this motley crew, you get comedy. But everything else dilutes the plot.
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