{"id":2303,"date":"2025-03-18T04:39:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2303"},"modified":"2025-03-18T04:39:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T04:39:39","slug":"kills-well-with-others-by-deanna-raybourn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2303","title":{"rendered":"Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kills Well with Others<\/em> picks up the threads left dangling in Raybourn\u2019s breakout hit Killers of a Certain Age<\/em><\/a>, reuniting readers with our favorite group of sixty-something assassins who can\u2019t seem to stay retired. In this sequel, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are summoned back from their brief respite to face a new threat\u2014one deeply connected to a mission they executed decades ago. Raybourn delivers another entertaining adventure filled with sharp dialogue and thrilling action sequences, though this sophomore entry occasionally misses the mark in ways its predecessor didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

The Plot: Old Missions, New Dangers<\/h2>\n

When a mysterious death alerts Naomi Ndiaye, the current head of the Museum (the clandestine assassination organization our heroines once worked for), a dormant threat emerges. The son of Boris Lazarov\u2014a Bulgarian assassin the women killed on a plane in 1979\u2014has seemingly started picking off people connected to his father\u2019s death. Pasha Lazarov wants revenge, but eliminating him is just the beginning of their troubles.<\/p>\n

What truly sets this sequel apart from the original is how it weaves in a fascinating subplot involving looted Nazi art. After dispatching Pasha, our protagonists discover his sister Galina (long believed dead) is continuing the vengeance mission while simultaneously pursuing a stolen Raphael masterpiece, \u201cLeda and the Swan.\u201d<\/em> This chase leads to a spectacular sequence on a train through Montenegro that showcases both Raybourn\u2019s knack for action sequences and her clever integration of art history into the modern espionage genre.<\/p>\n

The dual objectives\u2014survive Galina\u2019s revenge quest and recover the priceless painting\u2014create engaging narrative tension throughout. Raybourn expertly balances flashbacks to earlier missions (particularly a 1994 mission in Egypt) with the present-day adventure, gradually revealing how these past actions connect to current dangers.<\/p>\n

Character Development: The Heart of the Series<\/h2>\n

What makes this series stand out is not just the novelty of assassins past retirement age, but the compelling friendships between these women. In Kills Well with Others<\/em>, Raybourn deepens these relationships, particularly highlighting the growing complexity between:<\/p>\n

Billie and Taverner<\/strong>: Their on-again, off-again romance reaches new emotional depths as Billie struggles with the concept of trust and vulnerability.
\nHelen<\/strong>: Her grief over losing her husband Kenneth has evolved into a tentative new romance, plus she must cope with the destruction of her home (Benscombe).
\nMary Alice and Natalie<\/strong>: Their constant bickering reflects a deep bond that becomes most evident when Natalie appears to fall to her death from a train.<\/p>\n

One of the book\u2019s most endearing quirks is Natalie\u2019s insistence on bringing a live chicken (named Nula) onboard a train as part of her cover, which becomes a running gag throughout their dangerous mission.<\/p>\n

While Raybourn skillfully develops her protagonists, secondary characters don\u2019t always receive the same attention. Wolfgang Praetorius (a German opera singer and Galina\u2019s \u201cprot\u00e9g\u00e9\u201d) and Marilyn Carstairs (the traitorous Provenance agent) feel somewhat underdeveloped despite their significance to the plot.<\/p>\n

The Writing: Wit Amidst the Wounds<\/h2>\n

Raybourn\u2019s prose remains a highlight\u2014snappy dialogue interspersed with moments of genuine emotion and thoughtful reflection on aging<\/a>. The humor is particularly sharp, with lines like:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not babysitting a goddamned chicken,\u201d Mary Alice said, shoving the bird at me. It squawked a bit and I backed up.<\/em><\/h4>\n

\u201cNot it,\u201d I said.<\/em><\/h4>\n

The author excels at balancing the brutality of their profession with the mundane realities of aging bodies. When our protagonists leap from a moving train and tumble down a rocky slope, they don\u2019t simply brush themselves off and continue. They hurt, they bleed, they pop mysterious pills from Natalie\u2019s stash to keep going.<\/p>\n

This attention to physical reality grounds the more fantastical aspects of the plot and creates genuine tension during action sequences. We know these women are capable, but we also know they\u2019re not indestructible\u2014a fact that becomes particularly poignant when they appear to lose one of their own.<\/p>\n

Strengths: Where Raybourn Shines<\/h2>\n

Female friendship<\/strong>: The relationship between these four women remains the beating heart of the series.
\nArt history integration<\/strong>: The subplot involving Nazi-looted art is fascinating and well-researched.
\nHumor<\/strong>: The dialogue crackles with wit even in dire circumstances.
\nPacing<\/strong>: The novel moves briskly, especially during the train sequence.
\nInternational settings<\/strong>: From Venice to Montenegro, the locations feel richly realized.<\/p>\n

Weaknesses: Room for Improvement<\/h2>\n

Convenient coincidences<\/strong>: Several plot developments rely on unlikely timing and chance.
\nUneven flashbacks<\/strong>: While the 1994 Egypt mission adds depth, some other flashbacks interrupt the momentum.
\nVillain development<\/strong>: Galina could have been a more compelling antagonist with further development.
\nSuspension of disbelief<\/strong>: Some action sequences strain credulity, even for seasoned assassins.<\/p>\n

The Art of Aging Assassins<\/h2>\n

What continues to make this series compelling is Raybourn\u2019s unflinching look at aging in a profession that worships youth and physical prowess. These women aren\u2019t superhuman\u2014they\u2019re competent professionals dealing with the realities of bodies that don\u2019t recover as quickly as they once did.<\/p>\n

In one particularly telling scene, Billie reflects:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis job was hard enough when we were twenty, but at sixty-two? It took a hell of a lot more recovery time than it had forty years before.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

Yet for all their complaints about aching joints and slowing reflexes, they remain fiercely effective. The book suggests that experience and cunning often outweigh raw physical ability\u2014a refreshing counterpoint to the typical portrayal of assassins as young, impossibly fit specimens.<\/p>\n

Comparisons to Other Works<\/h2>\n

Fans of Killers of a Certain Age<\/em><\/a> will find much to enjoy in this sequel, though it lacks some of the freshness that made the first book so surprising. The series now sits comfortably alongside other \u201colder protagonists in action\u201d<\/em> works like the films RED<\/em> or The Old Man<\/em>, though with a distinctly feminine perspective.<\/p>\n

Readers who enjoy the historical aspects might also appreciate Raybourn\u2019s Veronica Speedwell mysteries, which showcase her talent for period details and witty dialogue in a Victorian setting. For those who appreciate the female friendship angle, Lian Dolan\u2019s The Sweeney Sisters<\/em> offers similar relationship dynamics, albeit without the international assassinations.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: A Worthy Sequel with Minor Flaws<\/h2>\n

Kills Well with Others<\/em> successfully builds on the foundation laid in Killers of a Certain Age<\/em>, delivering another adventurous romp with our favorite aging assassins. While it occasionally relies too heavily on coincidence and lacks some of the novelty of the first book, it compensates with deeper character work and a fascinating art-theft subplot.<\/p>\n

The novel ends with our heroines finally getting their long-overdue retirement benefits and seemingly settling into their separate lives\u2014Helen possibly moving to Brussels for her new romance, Mary Alice returning to Akiko and their cats, and Billie heading back to her Greek island with Taverner. But as this series has shown, retirement for these women seems to be more of a suggestion than a permanent state.<\/p>\n

For readers seeking a blend of action, humor, and friendship among women of a certain age who refuse to fade into the background, Kills Well with Others<\/em> delivers an entertaining\u2014if occasionally improbable\u2014adventure worth checking out.<\/p>\n

Who Should Read This Book<\/h2>\n

Fans of the first novel, Killers of a Certain Age<\/em><\/a>
\nReaders who enjoy action thrillers with female protagonists
\nThose interested in art history and Nazi-looted treasures
\nAnyone who appreciates witty dialogue and dark humor
\nReaders looking for stories featuring protagonists over 60<\/p>\n

The Bottom Line<\/h2>\n

Raybourn has created a series that celebrates female friendship, competence, and resilience in a genre typically dominated by younger male characters. While Kills Well with Others<\/em> doesn\u2019t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it\u2019s a thoroughly enjoyable adventure that leaves readers hoping these \u201cnecessary monsters\u201d<\/em> will return for more missions in the future. After all, retirement clearly doesn\u2019t suit them\u2014and we wouldn\u2019t want it any other way.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kills Well with Others picks up the threads left dangling in Raybourn\u2019s breakout hit Killers of a Certain Age, reuniting readers with our favorite group of sixty-something assassins who can\u2019t seem to stay retired. In this sequel, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are summoned back from their brief respite to face a new threat\u2014one […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2303"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2303"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2303\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}