Reading in the Mountains

Once upon a time, Lottie Jones was the nightmare under the bed. Now she’s just trying to win bingo without throwing her back out and keep her past buried deeper than her victims. Retirement was going so well — a fake name, a quiet town, and the most dangerous thing in her life being weak church coffee.

Enter Plum Dixon, a journalist with too many questions and not enough survival instinct. One knock on the door and suddenly Lottie’s golden-years peace turns into blood-spattered nostalgia. Because sure, murder was easier when her joints didn’t crack like bubble wrap… but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

Another visitor. Another loose end. And Lottie? Well, she might be too old for this — but there’s nothing like a fresh kill to make a woman feel young again.

Not a spoiler, but dear Lottie fucking killed Plum in not even half an hour after she walked into her house for an interview — Plum wanted to hear Lottie’s side of the story because she believed Lottie had been wrongfully jailed. Well, jokes on you, Plum…

Now Lottie’s trying to get rid of her laptop and phone and scrub Plum’s blood off the kitchen floor.

Interesting POV — an old-age serial killer.

High hopes.

So far it’s pretty interesting to follow Lottie. She knows exactly what to say to the detectives to make Plum’s boyfriend look guilty, even though she’s the one who chopped her up and burned the pieces. Then she took some of the ashes to her Thursday church friend — who used them for gardening.

But when you’ve been a killer your whole life, it’s fascinating to see how dangerous and resourceful someone truly evil can be.

Also — do police officers lie to suspects in interviews? Makes sense, but honestly, I’d never paid attention until now.

Okaaaay, I did not expect a corrupt detective who already suspects Lottie — but that spices things up. I also didn’t expect Lottie to actually plan to kill a detective… a detective desperate for money, clearly dangerous… it’s moving slowly, but it’s moving.

I think Lottie’s mistake is trying to kill everyone around her who suspects her.

But she’s been wanting to kill Burke for a long time.

Burke’s the detective who interviewed her for her first crimes, and he knows for sure she’s a killer. He and Plum’s mother are both trying to catch her, but when Plum’s mother also disappears, Lottie’s getting closer and closer to being caught — though it’s insane how she’s always one step ahead, lying her way through everything.

A cute little book — a bit too long, could’ve been shorter, but still okay.

Okay, I wasn’t expecting a twist at almost the end, but what Lottie finds in Burke’s hotel room is quite interesting.

Insane ending… I just fucking hate Lottie but I’m also impressed by her, a good thriller.