Killers of a Certain Age

Introduction

Killers of a Certain Age is a 2022 contemporary thriller by American author Deanna Raybourn. The work’s title is a play on the euphemistic reference to older women as “of a certain age” rather than calling them middle-aged, elderly, or senior citizens. Raybourn has previously achieved recognition for her historical mysteries, such as the Lady Julia Grey mysteries and the Veronica Speedwell mysteries. These works often feature women as sleuths pursuing romance as well as adventure. Her books have achieved recognition within the mystery genre, including nominations for the Edgar and Agatha Awards. Many of her works, including Killers of a Certain Age, are New York Times bestsellers.

This guide uses the 2022 Kindle edition of Killers of a Certain Age.

Plot Summary

The work begins with an Authors’ Note instructing the reader that the work is fictitious in the interest of many people’s safety.

The first chapter opens with a flashback to November 1979. Raybourn intersperses episodes from the group’s past throughout the present-tense narrative. In 1979, four young women, Billie Webster, Helen Randolph, Natalie Schuyler, and Mary Alice Tuttle are on a flight over Europe.