The Retirement Plan – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs in exchange for an honest review.*
The Retirement Plan book blurb
Three middle-aged best friends turn to murder in order to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies…but are unaware that their husbands have a devious plan of their own, in this darkly funny debut—perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone.
Three wives wanting a new life, three husbands in their way…
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, and their dreams of beachfront condos and a sunny, carefree retirement vanish.
The golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.
But when one husband dies in a freak accident, the other three women are shocked to see his widow rebound with a huge life insurance payout and a new life in Florida.
In the aftermath, the women discover that their husbands have identical, seven-figure life insurance policies.
A new dream forms, and this time, it involves a hitman.
Meanwhile, their husbands have a secret retirement plan of their own. So, when things begin to go awry, they fear their own scheme may have backfired…with deadly consequences.
The husbands scramble to stay alive, but they may not be fast enough to outmaneuver their wives.
What follows is a high-stakes tale of cat and mouse, both laugh-out-loud funny and unbearably tense, while ultimately a bighearted look at marriage, friendship, and middle-age.
My overall thoughts on The Retirement Plan
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.
Afterall, 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.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given an advance copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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