AGING IS MURDER

In Cohen’s comedic thriller, a group of octogenarians plan political assassinations.

Massachusetts resident Abby convinces her best friend, Lola, and their assisted-living compatriots Sam and Yank to embark on a plan to murder some politicians they all dislike. First, the overweight Yank hits the gym, but Sam, an accomplished hacker, readily lends his skills, and Lola, a former actor and makeup artist, offers her impressive gifts. They give each of their targets code names, but their real-world counterparts will likely be clear to readers, including “orange man” and “the Florida guy.” The novel has all the trappings of a good heist story, and as in all good capers, the main characters face unexpected consequences as both age and the FBI close in on them. The concept is ripe for comedy as the aging assassins fumble with putting poison in a Parmesan dispenser, someone dresses as a priest to kill the Florida guy, and a dog steals underwear from a nurse. Such moments fail to elicit a chuckle, however, since the prose gets so bogged down in explanation. Also, the group of elders commit to political violence too easily—without hesitation, struggle, or visible cost—and the physical world they inhabit lacks enough detail for the story to feel complete. Where the book does succeed is in showing the realities of age and aging: Children are distant and don’t visit, diseases and ailments can’t be outrun, nurses are loving but overbearing, and second chances for love are possible. The author also does a good job of reminding readers that people of all ages desire a world that’s better for their children—even if those kids don’t come around enough.

An intriguing caper novel that strains toward satire but never quite draws blood.