annieb123's Review of The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp

by Leonie Swann

A quirky group of seniors attempts to solve one murder while covering up another—with the help of an enterprising tortoise—in this twisty, darkly funny mystery from the author of Three Bags Full.

It has been an eventful morning for Agnes Sharp and the other inhabitants of Sunset Hall, a house share for the old and unruly in the sleepy English countryside. Although they have had some issues (misplaced reading glasses, conflicting culinary tastes, decreasing mobility, and gluttonous grandsons), nothing prepares them for an unexpected visit from a police officer with some shocking news. A body has been discovered next door. Everyone puts on a long face for show, but they are secretly relieved the body in question is not the one they’re currently hiding in the shed (sorry, Lillith).

It seems the answer to their little problem with Lillith may have fallen right into their laps. All they have to do is find out who murdered their neighbor, so they can pin Lillith’s death on them, thus killing two (old) birds with one stone (cold killer).

With their plan sorted, Agnes and her geriatric gang spring into action. After all, everybody likes a good mystery. Besides, the more suspicion they can cast about, surely the less will land on them. To investigate, they will step out of their comfort zone and tangle with sinister bakers, broken stairlifts, inept criminals, the local authorities, and their own dark secrets.

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp is the first book in a quirky dark comedy murder mystery by Leonie Swann. Originally published in German in 2020, this English language translation from Soho Press on their Soho Crime imprint is 360 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. Paperback format due out from the same publisher 30th July 2024. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout.

Octogenarian sleuths who are, themselves, pretty dodgy (they're hiding a body in the garden shed), trying to solve a murder and wrap it up with their own body-disposal problem. The author does a good job of skirting the line between dark comedy without falling too far on the wrong side of being ageist or in really poor taste.

The story features the residents of a village house-share, disparate, cranky, elderly, but not necessarily benign. It's sort of like a golden years version of Clue or Knives Out and fans of edgy(ish) dark comedic mysteries will be in raptures.

The translation work in this edition was provided by Amy Bojang, and it's seamless and not at all intrusive. She's done a good job with the scansion in the translation and it's smooth and totally readable.

Four stars. There are three volumes in the series at this point, this one currently available, a second book, Agnes Sharp and the Trip of a Lifetime, available (in translation) in September 2024, and the third as yet only available in German.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

Reading updates

9 May, 2024: Started reading

9 May, 2024: Finished reading

9 May, 2024: Reviewed