The Retirement Plan: Mystery Review

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs, is a clever satirical comedy about retirement, and marriage, showing just how far people will go when their dreams are snatched away.

graphic of The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs Book cover
The Retirement Plan
by Sue Hincenbergs
Book cover
TitleThe Retirement Plan
WriterSue Hincenbergs
SeriesStandalone
PublisherWilliam Morrow
Publication date6th May 2025
MBR star rating /5⭐⭐⭐⭐
GenreContemporary
General Fiction (Adult)
Mystery & Thrillers
Crime
The Retirement Plan
fact sheet

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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Synopsis: The Retirement Plan

The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is a wickedly funny and sharply suspenseful tale of friendship, marriage, and murder.

After thirty years, Pam, Nancy, Shalisa, and Marlene have a dream of sipping cocktails in beachfront condos with their husbands by their side.

But when the men sink their savings into a disastrous investment, those golden years vanish in an instant.

Then fate intervenes: one husband dies in a freak accident, leaving his widow with a fat life insurance payout and a brand-new life in Florida.

Soon, the remaining 3 friends, discover all of their husbands hold identical million-dollar policies. A new retirement plan begins to take shape, this time involving a hitman.

But the husbands have a dangerous scheme of their own. When plans collide, both sides are forced into a deadly game of cat and mouse where the line between loyalty and betrayal blurs. As everyone’s future is suddenly on the line.

A clever, big-hearted thriller full of razor-sharp wit, The Retirement Plan asks: how far would you go for the life you’ve always wanted?

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Review: The Retirement Plan

What happens when three middle-aged women realize their golden years will not be so golden after all?

In this Sue Hincenbergs’ dark comedy The Retirement Plan, friendship, frustration, and outrageous plotting collide in a story that mixes sharp satire with a dash of absurdity.

Premise

Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa always thought their retirements would be secure. But when their husbands’ financial blunders wipe out their savings, the women face a grim reality: endless work with no rest in sight.

Their solution? Hire an assassin to get rid of their husbands and collect the insurance money.

Of course, nothing goes to plan. Soon, an immigrant barber is both protecting the husbands and being asked to kill them, leading to a web of miscommunication, chaos, and hilarity.

Tone and Style

  • Dark Comedy: The humor doesn’t come from punchlines but from the absurdity of the situations.
  • Satirical Edge: Hincenbergs takes aim at aging, money woes, and the illusion of a comfortable retirement.
  • Miscommunication as a Driver: If you’re not a fan of characters talking past each other, this might frustrate you—but it’s the very fuel that keeps the story rolling.

Positives/Negatives

What Works

  • Fresh concept: A darkly comic spin on retirement fears.
  • Character situations: The comedy comes from what people do, not just what they say.
  • Believability: Just enough realism in the setup keeps the absurdity grounded.

What Doesn’t

  • Readers who dislike plotlines built on misunderstandings may struggle with the premise.
  • The twists pile up quickly—while it clicks together in the end, it can feel a little chaotic along the way.

Conclusion

Why Read The Retirement Plan?

If you enjoy novels that:

  • Blend dark comedy with crime and satire
  • Explore the messy reality of aging and money worries
  • Keep you entertained with twists that balance the line between believable and absurd

…then The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is well worth picking up.

It may not have you laughing out loud on every page, but the wit, originality, and audacity of the plot make it a memorable read.

Final Verdict:

A clever, satirical comedy about retirement, marriage, and just how far people will go when their dreams are snatched away.

Sue Hincenbergs
Sue Hincenbergs

Further reading

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Mark.

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