In order to collect on their husbands’ life insurance policies, three middle-aged friends turn to murder—unaware that their husbands have a devious plan of their own, in this darkly funny debut perfect for fans of The Thursday Murder Club and Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone

Meet three wives who want a new life, and three husbands who are in their way . . .

After thirty years of friendship, Pam dreams of her perfect retirement with Nancy, Shalisa, Marlene, and their husbands—until the husbands pool their funds in an investment that goes terribly wrong. With their dreams of beachfront condos and a sunny, carefree retirement shattered, the women’s golden years are looking as dreary as their marriages.

Then one of the husbands dies in a freak accident and the other three women are shocked to see their friend rebound with a huge life insurance payout and a new life in Florida. In the aftermath, the three discover that their husbands have identical, seven-figure life insurance policies. A new dream begins to take form, and this time it involves a hitman.

Meanwhile, the remaining husbands have a secret retirement plan of their own. But when things begin to go awry, they fear their own scheme may have backfired . . . with deadly consequences. The husbands scramble to stay alive, but they may not be fast enough to outmanoeuvre their wives.

What follows is a high-stakes tale of cat and mouse that is both laugh-out-loud funny and unbearably tense and, ultimately, a big-hearted look at friendship, marriage, and middle age.

Sue Hincenbergs is a former television producer who has worked on multiple award-winning programs. She lives in Toronto with her (very much alive) husband, her scruffy, middle-aged rescue dog, Kramer, and the rooms full of the stuff her three sons left behind when they moved out. The porch light is always on in case one comes by for a visit. The Retirement Plan is her first novel.

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“A razor sharp, clever, funny novel which is also surprisingly tender. . . I defy you not to be rooting for these characters. It’s a triumph." — Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things

“The Retirement Plan by Sue Hincenbergs is jaw-droppingly hilarious, but that’s just the start. This wild story is meticulously plotted with wonderfully vivid characters and is an absolute scream from first page to last. So slick I can’t believe it’s a debut -- strong contender for my cozy crime book of the year!” — Janice Hallett, internationally bestselling author of The Appeal

"This funny, twisty read about three girlfriends who turn to murder (husbands watch out!) had me turning the pages late into the night. Razor-sharp and deviously dark!"
— Sarah Pearse, author of The Sanitorium

“Absolutely hilarious is the only way to describe Sue Hincenberg’s debut, The Retirement Plan, with a cast of charming but deeply flawed characters I couldn’t help rooting for!” — Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

“Relentlessly and rambunctiously entertaining. A feel-good crime caper that could put a smile on the face of any hitman.” — Chris Brookmyre, author of The Cracked Mirror

‘Sharp, wicked and thoroughly addictive!’ — Ian Moore, author of Death at the Chateau

“Deliciously dark, twisty and packed full of humour and charm, The Retirement Plan had me racing through the pages to witness the hijinks unfold. A hugely impressive debut from a real star in the makin.” — Amy McCulloch, nationally bestseller author of Breathless