Sue Hincenbergs’ debut novel “The Retirement Plan” is the kind of book that makes you laugh inappropriately while simultaneously making you question your own moral compass. This isn’t just another cozy mystery—it’s a wickedly clever exploration of marriage, friendship, and the desperate measures people take when their golden years start looking more like rust.
Plot That Unravels Like a Well-Executed Heist
The premise is deliciously twisted: four middle-aged women discover their husbands have identical million-dollar life insurance policies. When one husband dies in what appears to be a freak accident, his widow, Marlene, suddenly transforms from struggling retiree to wealthy Florida-bound jet-setter. The remaining three wives—Pam, Nancy, and Shalisa—watch this metamorphosis with growing envy and desperation.
What follows is a dual narrative masterpiece where neither the wives nor husbands are entirely sympathetic, yet both groups remain oddly relatable. The women hire a hitman named Hector (who has “dead eyes” according to local legend), while the husbands, unbeknownst to their wives, are involved in a multi-million dollar casino theft scheme that would make Ocean’s Eleven proud.
Characters Who Breathe With Authentic Dysfunction
Hincenbergs has created characters that feel like people you’d meet at a suburban barbecue—before they started plotting murder, that is:
- Pam, the protagonist, whose marriage to Hank has deteriorated to the point where him eating her leftover pad thai becomes justification for murder
- Nancy, perpetually late and secretly wounded by her husband Larry’s rejection of their son’s homosexuality
- Shalisa, married to the insufferable Andre who criticizes her diet while harboring his own devastating secret
- Marlene, the unexpected star who transforms from grieving widow to confident bad-ass when Dave’s insurance money hits her account
The husbands are equally well-drawn, particularly in their bumbling attempts at criminal enterprise. Hank’s paranoia, Larry’s methodical nature, and Andre’s surprisingly tragic backstory create a complex web of motivations that elevate this beyond simple dark comedy.
Hector the Hitman: The Breakout Star
Perhaps the most intriguing character is Hector, the barber/hitman who becomes the pivot point between the two plots. His relationship with his wife Brenda (who becomes the casino’s new security director) adds a layer of domestic normalcy that somehow makes the whole murderous enterprise even more surreal. When Hector drops by with donuts to discuss assassination plans, it’s both hilarious and oddly touching.
Writing Style: Sharp as a Barber’s Razor
Hincenbergs writes with a voice that’s part Elmore Leonard, part Janet Evanovich. Her dialogue crackles with authenticity—these women sound exactly like longtime friends would, complete with inside jokes, mild bickering, and the kind of casual cruelty that only comes from decades of familiarity. The narrative jumps between perspectives with surgical precision, never losing track of the multiple balls in the air.
The humor is dark but never mean-spirited. Even when the characters are planning murder, there’s a fundamental kindness to how Hincenbergs treats them. She understands that people do terrible things for complex reasons, and that moral compromises often begin with the smallest concessions.
Themes That Cut Deeper Than Expected
Beneath the murder plot lies a sophisticated examination of:
- Middle-age disillusionment: The crushing realization that retirement dreams may remain just that
- Marriage entropy: How relationships can decay not through dramatic betrayal but through a thousand small neglects
- Female friendship: The complexity of bonds that survive decades of shared disappointments
- Economic anxiety: The very real fear of poverty in old age that drives otherwise decent people to desperate measures
Plot Mechanics: Nearly Flawless
The novel’s structure is impressively intricate. Hincenbergs manages multiple timelines, reveals secrets in perfectly calibrated doses, and maintains suspense even when the reader can see the characters making terrible decisions. The casino theft subplot is particularly well-crafted, with enough technical detail to feel plausible without bogging down the pace.
One minor quibble: some of the coincidences that bring everything together feel slightly too convenient. The revelation that Hector and Brenda are married, while amusing, stretches credibility just a touch. But in a novel about planned murders and casino heists, this seems a churlish complaint.
A Few Minor Missteps
The novel occasionally gets lost in its own cleverness. Some of the later reveals about the casino money and who knew what when become slightly convoluted. Additionally, the resolution with Farid “The Fiscal Falcon” feels rushed, as if Hincenbergs suddenly realized she needed to wrap things up.
The character of Padma, while amusing in her incompetence, sometimes veers too close to caricature. Her interactions with potential husbands, while funny, occasionally feel like padding rather than integral plot elements.
Where It Stands in the Genre
“The Retirement Plan” fits perfectly alongside recent hits like:
- “The Thursday Murder Club” by Richard Osman: Similar elderly protagonists, though less homicidal
- “Finlay Donovan Is Killing It” by Elle Costas: Another accidental criminal protagonist navigating domestic life
- “The Maid” by Nita Prose: Dark comedy with working-class characters pushed to extremes
As Hincenbergs’ debut, it shows remarkable polish and confidence. The author, a former television producer, clearly understands pacing and character development. Her background shines through in the way she structures revelations and manages multiple plot lines.
The Satisfying Conclusion
Without spoiling the specifics, the ending manages to be both surprising and inevitable. Hincenbergs doesn’t take the easy way out—there are real consequences to the characters’ actions, but also genuine growth and transformation. The epilogue, set six months later, provides satisfying closure while maintaining the novel’s essential humor.
Final Verdict: A Keeper
“The Retirement Plan” succeeds on multiple levels. It’s a genuinely funny dark comedy, a tightly plotted thriller, and a surprisingly touching meditation on relationships and aging. At its heart, it asks a simple question: What happens when ordinary people are pushed to extraordinary measures?
This is the kind of book that will have readers simultaneously laughing and cringing, probably at the same time. It’s smart without being pretentious, funny without sacrificing emotional depth, and suspenseful without resorting to cheap tricks.
For a debut novel, it’s remarkably assured. Hincenbergs has created something that works both as escapist entertainment and social commentary. In an era where many thrillers feel cookie-cutter, “The Retirement Plan” offers something genuinely original.
Rating and Recommendation
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Dark comedy with heart
- Complex plotting without confusion
- Characters you’d want to have a drink with (maybe not plan a murder with)
- Books that make you laugh and think simultaneously
Sue Hincenbergs has crafted a debut that announces a major new voice in humorous mystery. “The Retirement Plan” isn’t just a good book—it’s the kind of book that makes you eager to see what the author does next. In a genre crowded with formulaic entries, this stands out as something fresh, funny, and surprisingly profound.
Whether you’re approaching retirement yourself or just enjoy watching characters navigate moral quicksand with humor and heart, “The Retirement Plan” delivers in spades. Just don’t leave it where your spouse might find it—unless your life insurance is paid up.