I thought this book would be a bit more shot a fun retirement plan, it was funny but also some parts did drag and felt they were just filling in pages. An okay book but not one of my favourites.

ADVANCED REVIEW COPY - NET GALLEY 4*

I enjoyed this yarn BUT didn't find it an unputdownable page turner as my read extended over many days with other reads intervening.

It had vibes of Cohen Brothers or Tarantino (without the overt violence) and I imagined Frances McDormand playing one of the lead female roles so you can guess where I found some derivation - not that this was a bad thing.

I enjoyed the overlay of an Indian crime family into the traditional USA casino scene - it led to some very silly but fun mis-assumptions along the way over suitors and hitmen.

A nice easy summer holiday read, not a classic but a good one to read between martinis and poolside dips

I was provided and advance copy of this book in return for an honest personal review...that's what you've just read

Pam ,Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene, friends for over thirty years, dream of their retirement and the grand plans they've made together but unknown to them their husbands have pooled their retirement funds in dud investment that goes terribly wrong. Dreams shattered the women are shook to their cores as their futures begin to look very different.

When one of the husbands dies suddenly in a seemingly freak accident and his wife receives a huge life insurance pay out - the wheels begin to turn for the other 3.


The husbands however have other ideas with a new covert retirement plan of their own. But as their scheme snowballs not all is as it seems,,,


A caper like novel with high stakes and even higher consequences

Hincenbergs, a former TV producer, brings her storytelling expertise to the page, crafting a narrative that’s both entertaining and insightful. The characters are richly developed, and the plot is as unpredictable as it is engaging. The novel balances humor with moments of genuine emotion, exploring themes of friendship, aging, and the complexities of long-term relationships.

The Retirement Plan is a darkly hilarious, delightfully twisted debut that delivers murder plots, marital mayhem, and miscommunication in the most entertaining way imaginable. Sue Hincenbergs’ debut is a sharp, fast-paced romp that plays like Desperate Housewives meets Fargo, with a cast of sixty-something schemers who prove that golden years don’t always mean golden morals.

When a “sure thing” investment wipes out their savings, four longtime friends—Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene—start to reassess not only their finances but their marriages. The sudden death of Marlene’s husband in a garage door "accident" (with a conveniently large life insurance payout) sparks a question none of them thought they'd ask: what if widowhood was… an upgrade?

Meanwhile, their increasingly paranoid husbands, each with secrets of their own, suspect foul play and hire Hector, a local barber from El Salvador who moonlights as a hitman. But when Hector is also approached by the wives for the exact opposite job, things get complicated—and absolutely ridiculous—in the best way.

This is not a story that plays by the rules of realism, and that’s exactly the point. It’s absurd, over-the-top, and utterly addictive. The characters are vibrant and memorable, from the bumbling husbands and calculating wives to the surprisingly thoughtful hitman and a chaotic casino boss with a matchmaking mother. The comedy is dark, the pacing tight, and the plot full of unexpected twists that keep you guessing—and laughing—until the very end.

Beneath all the scheming and slapstick, The Retirement Plan is also a refreshing look at older women taking back control in a world that often overlooks them. The friendships between the women are at the heart of the story, and their plotting—however morally questionable—is wildly fun to follow.

If you enjoy your thrillers with a side of sass, scandal, and satire, The Retirement Plan is not to be missed. A wildly entertaining debut and a wickedly good time from start to finish.

After reading a few biographies it was nice to completely change tack to something fictional. This started out quite predictable (I thought) but had plenty of twists along the way. All in all a fun read that I completely enjoyed. Great holiday reading as not too heavy but not too light either.

Pam, Nancy, Shalisa and Marlene, along with their husbands have been friends for years. Altough not in the 'rich' category, they were all comfortably off until a 'sure fire' investment went horribly wrong and their money was lost. This brought home to the wives that really their marriges were not all they could be. Then Marlene's husband dies in an accident with the garage door- or was it an accident? When Marlene discovers that she has a very healthy life insurance policy, the other wives get to thinking- what if they also lost their husbands? Meanwhile, the men are worried that they might be nexyt on the hit list they engage Hector, the barber from El Salvador to dispose of the threat. It so happens that Hector is also approached by the wives to bump off their husbands!

This was a really enjoyable romp of a story. Yes of course it was far fetched- that's what fiction is all about! But it was a super read with some terrific characters. I loved the poor indian Casino boss, forever trying to get out from her mother's thumb. Hector & his wife were also memorable. Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book- I loved it!

An entertaining tale about some women who hire a hit man to take out their husbands for the insurance money. Starts fairly predictably, however it gets some good twists and turns going, once you get into it. There are some excellent characters, Hector is my favourite, and even the dog has a role to play. You can tell that the author really had fun putting this plot together. Comes together nicely for a satisfying ending

Oh this was just brilliant and so entertaining.

And I'm utterly surprised that it was a debut novel, it was just that good and accomplished.

We have husbands hiring hitmen to protect themselves after one of their group dies, after all they are all hiding something major.
We have wives plotting to kill husbands.
There is a double dipping hitman with a fair bit of humanity too.
Add in a dog, a lot of assumptions, a boss that is having to deal with a matchmaker and a mother, while trying to prove herself, and all sorts of miscommunications - and you have the recipe for one incredibly amusing, dark and twisted and just all around addictive book.

I read this in one sitting, totally hooked on all the various goings on. For the second we think we know exactly what is happening, something else is revealed and the truths as you know them are developed further with more layers.

I think what is fairly safe to say is that Pam, Nancy and Shalisa are not totally happy in their marriages, and that all of their husbands are total schmucks!

And to make this even better, the main characters, all good friends, are in their sixties. This is golden age crime plotting at its very best. It's amusing and addictive and just an all around great read.

Thank you to Sphere and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Funny, clever, and utterly satisfying ✨. The Retirement Plan flips expectations on their head, delivering a witty, heartwarming story about reinvention, friendship, and finding joy later in life. Sue Hincenbergs' characters leap off the page, full of life, humour, and relatable struggles. It’s uplifting without being saccharine, reminding us that it’s never too late for new beginnings. I laughed, I rooted for the characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. A must-read for anyone who loves feel-good fiction with sharp humour and heart.

This book just kept me chuckling and in some ways reminded me of a 1980s farce. Four friends dream of the perfect retirement but when an investment goes very wrong they are left counting every cent. When one of the husband dies in slightly odd circumstances and the window is left with very welcome seven figure insurance policy the others make a plan to improve their own lives and that doesn’t include their husbands. But little do they know that their husbands have their own plans! This book has so many twists and turns that at times it made me breathless and it was so funny it left me with a smile on my face. I willdefinitely be recommending it to all my friends. The character of Hector just shone ,I can’t say anymore as it would spoil the novel. Just get a copy and find out. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for honest review.

This was such a fun enjoyable concept that I couldn't resist requesting. Whilst it didn't love up to the hype I still had a good time reading.

This was such a fun book to read, a change from all the psychological thrillers around at the moment. I could relate with a lot of the characters, being of a certain age myself! Lots of twists and turns and a happy ending what not to like!

I sailed through it and it was such a joy to read. Lighthearted, clever, and genuinely funny, it had everything I needed in a feel-good escape. I caught myself laughing out loud more than once and couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded.

The story follows a group of longtime friends whose lives take a sharp (and hilarious) turn after their husbands lose all their money in a dodgy investment. What starts as a story about frustration and friendship quickly spirals into something much more unexpected and so much fun. The plot is full of twists, and I loved not knowing what was coming next.

There was so much heart that the friendships felt real and warm, and even with all the chaos, there was something deeply relatable about the characters. I found myself genuinely rooting for them the whole way through.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy through @netgalley and I’m always so grateful when books like this are available to read ahead of publication. A tad late with my review as this book was just published in May! So yes it's out for you to read!

If you’re looking for something funny, fast-paced, and full of charm, The Retirement Plan is a total winner. I really hope there’s more to come from the debut author, Sue Hincenbergs!

This was a lighthearted read which took what is effectively the miscommunication trope, which I usually hate, and used it to push the plot along in a way that ended up being a lot of fun. It went in directions I wasn’t expecting and it stayed pretty well paced throughout.

The ending went on a bit long, and wrapped things up a little too neatly, for my personal taste but I think a lot of people will appreciate it.

I absolutely loved this book, the dark humour used was just what I needed. It was so cleverly written, it was entertaining from start to finish. I loved the characters, their connections and how they came together, I have a massive sweet spot for Hector and Brenda. I can imagine it being turned into a show, the plot is so out there it would be perfect.

Talk about miscommunication or getting the wrong end of the stick which resulted in an amusing book to read! It felt like you couldn’t make it up over what was happening to the characters but at the same time, it felt very believable in the circumstances too! Good characters you could enjoy and a storyline that keeps you glued and amused!

Fun.

Pam and her friends aren’t my kind of people but I enjoyed spending time in their company.

I imagine this will do well as a poolside read, and deservedly so.

Okay this was a fun read, I definitely feel like it lived up to the hype & written well, a great standalone holiday read

A funny cautionary tale of what can happen when marriage goes sour. Fed up of their husbands’ fecklessness, their wives decide to have them killed and claim on the life insurance. The husbands are also fearful someone is theming to kill them and hire the same ‘gun for hire’ to kill whoever is trying to kill them! It’s a very funny read whilst also having poignant moments.