⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🐢 illustrations!!!
🐢 quirky group of (senior) characters
🐢 lots of characters
🐢 seniors solving murder 🤪
🐢 serial murder
🐢 long chapters

I loved the illustrations!! They were sooo cute and they just added so much visually to a normally dull, black and white text page. Such a small thing but it really added so much to my reading experience!
I did not realize this was a mystery story when I picked it up (my favourite genre!!!) and this was like a mystery x10! A serial mystery if you will 🤪
I love a group of senior citizens solving a murder because the things they say and the things that happen to them is always hilarious 🤣 and I like how the story was written in an old person POV with their funny and witty things that they say. This was a very enjoyable (murder 🤪) story.
The story really picked up at the end, and I did not see the killer coming!
I think we went a little overboard with the word “whippersnapper” though; I was so sick of reading that word by the first few chapters.

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

Enjoyed the combination of dark humor but also how moving it could be at time. A charming book about elderly sleuths, great for fans of Richard Osman.

Agnes Sharp owns Sunset Hall, a house she shares with several other senior citizens. Each person in the group experiences age-related issues and carries secrets. But they are also remain committed to each other. Unfortunately, several murders could harm their happy home unless each person works together to solve the crimes.
The twists keep the story interesting. Just when I think I've solved the murder, there's another twist! But sometimes as I read, I wasn't sure who was speaking. The story felt disjointed in places. That's the reason for the 3 stars instead of 4.
The ending with Hettie the tortoise hurt my heart despite the author's kind and animal-friendly prologue.
I like the focus on older people. This book offers a realistic look at how age can affect us, but we're still capable of thoughts and actions that benefit ourselves, our friends and our community. That's a strong takeaway from this novel.

A wonderful cozy mystery about a group of elderly housemates who solve several murders. Lots of humour.

The cast of characters in The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp is wonderful.. The titular character has put together a group of elderly individuals who need a community, but not in an assisted living facility. They have a unique pact that they've agreed upon-everyone has their limits for what they're willing to accept in terms of physical, mental, and emotional deterioration and they watch out for one another as a family. When one of their own is found dead, and a neighbor is found dead by the same means, their world turns upside down. The curmudgeons of Sunset Hall are a lovely group with a lot of heart. Leonie Swann's mystery is the perfect book for fans of The Thursday Murder Club.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Older characters and detectives are having a moment in the mystery genre. It may have begun with Richard Osman and Robert Thorogood has also followed this path. In this novel, we have the older characters created by Ms. Swann in this title that was originally published in German.

A number of older folks live together. Referred to as hippies, they have their limitations.  Somehow they manage the indignities of aging. However, when two murders occur will they be able to manage…and to solve the cases?

I wanted to like this book based on all I had heard but I just found it to be okay. An issue for me was that I did not especially care for the characters who were living at Sunset Hall. I did love the illustrations and the tortoise though.

Note the following though so don’t just go by me.

A Washington Post Best Mystery Novel of 2023
A New York Times Editors’ Choice
Book Riot Most Anticipated Beach Reads of 2023
A LibraryReads August Bonus Pick

Many thanks to NetGalley and Soho Press/Soho Crime for this title. All opinions are my own.

THE SUNSET YEARS OF AGNES SHARP by Leonie Swann was a LibraryReads selection for August 2023; that and its description involving a "quirky group of seniors attempt[ing] to solve one murder while covering up another" prompted me to ask for this mystery story. Although professional reviewers referenced a text that was "witty" and "charming," I found it difficult to care for the older characters because, to me, they were portrayed in a stereotypical way as being "loony" and "foolish." Humor can exist without being deprecating/belittling. Parts (especially those which emphasized the physical constraints and the confusion which naturally come with age) were actually somewhat painful to read and my recommendation to other readers would be to avoid Swann’s Sunset Hall (see what I mean about the negativity?) and enjoy other mysteries featuring aged, but capable (and often funny) individuals. Be sure to try titles like The Last Devil to Die (latest in Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman) or Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn or The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise from Colleen Oakley.

In The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp we meet Agnes ( the owner of Sunset House) and a group of geriatric seniors that all reside together. This cast of characters set out to solve the murder of a member of the community while covering up another murder. A fun read, a bit slow, interesting back stories and my favorite character Hettie the tortoise.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an electronic ARC and the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC and Advanced Listening Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know that the “seniors solving murders” is a permanent trend in the mystery genre now. The Thursday Murder Club, The Marlow Murder Club, etc- they are holding our collective attention. And for good reason: it is lovely to have a fresh “perspective” in a beloved genre. However, those tend to feature seniors in their late 60s and early 70s who are still rather active and lead very busy lives. Agnes Sharp has quite a different approach…
The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp features a group of senior-seniors, Agnes Sharp and her friends. Agnes has trouble hearing, moves at a pretty slow speed, and does her best to avoid the phone; her friends that also live at Sunset Hall are equally advanced. And I loved the different approach to this familiar theme. While I love the super-active seniors who have the free time and endless energy to bolt around solving murders, I felt an affinity with Agnes and her friends. I might be roughly a third of their age but feeling slower than molasses is a familiar feeling!
I also loved the use of Agnes’ tortoise, Harriet, as a framing device. It sounds odd, but it worked brilliantly. I think that mysteries like these are perfect for the spooky season in the autumn if you aren’t a huge fan of actually-spooky things (like me)!

Happy to include this title in The Year in Reading, my annual year-end longread highlighting personal favourite titles for the Books section of Zoomer, Canada’s national culture magazine. (see feature article at link)

I love a group of quirky elderly people trying to solve mysteries, but somehow this was a very boring book. There wasn't enough mystery happening, and more lost time and moments that made the book feel disjointed and clunky rather than the presumed effect of making the reader experience the characters' issues.

Agnes Sharp runs a house share "for the old and unruly" near Duck End, a little English village. A body turns up next door - but it serves to distract from the fact that the residents of Sunset Hall also have a body in their shed! Several more deaths occur, and the madcap adventures continue as Agnes and her delightful housemates (including a tortoise named Hettie and a wolfhound named Brexit) investigate.
My clever daughter guessed the denouement, but I didn't. It's a tangled but humorous plot with lots of eccentric, amusing, lovable characters, and the audio is expertly narrated by Moira Quirk (I listened while I read along). This should be a lot of fun for readers of Richard Osman's books.

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. 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. This is the first in what I hope is a long running series. It puts a fun spin on the “senior citizens solving mysteries” genre. Looking forward to book 2!

This is book 1 in a new series. Agnes Sharp and her elderly housemates are hiding a dead body in their shed and when the police knock on the door to tell them about a murder next door they think it could be the solution to their problem. Set in rural England the cast of characters are funny and so real. I’m looking forward to more of their escapades in Duck End.

In The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp, Leonie Swann delivers a charming and witty tale that combines the allure of a cosy mystery with the endearing quirks of a group of aging protagonists. Set in the idyllic English countryside, the novel introduces readers to the residents of Sunset Hall, a house share for the elderly, whose seemingly ordinary lives take an unexpected turn when a body is discovered next door.

Swann deftly weaves together humour, suspense, and a touch of mischief as Agnes Sharp and her fellow inhabitants navigate the complexities of old age while embarking on a clandestine mission to unravel the mystery surrounding their neighbour’s untimely demise. The author's sharp wit and keen observations infuse the narrative with a delightful sense of light-heartedness, creating a whimsical atmosphere that keeps readers eagerly turning the pages.

The eclectic cast of characters, each with their own endearing idiosyncrasies, adds depth and warmth to the storyline. From misplaced reading glasses to gluttonous grandsons, the residents of Sunset Hall grapple with the challenges of aging, forming an endearing camaraderie as they embark on their daring investigation. Swann skilfully crafts their interactions, highlighting the bonds of friendship and resilience that emerge as they confront both external threats and their own hidden secrets.

As the plot unfolds, the quaint village of Duck End serves as the backdrop for a series of comical escapades and unexpected twists. Swann's vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of the English countryside, evoking a sense of nostalgia and familiarity that resonates throughout the narrative. The author's clever portrayal of the residents' escapades, entangled with bumbling criminals, broken stairlifts, and the occasional run-in with the local authorities, adds a delightful layer of whimsy to the story.

The Sunset Years of Agnes Sharp is a delightful exploration of friendship, resilience, and the enduring spirit of adventure, regardless of age. Swann's adept storytelling and witty prose capture the essence of the human experience, celebrating the joys of camaraderie and the thrill of unravelling a good mystery, even in the twilight years. This heartwarming tale is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the elderly, reminding readers that life's adventures are not confined by age, but rather enriched by the bonds we form along the way.

What a delightful little read!

Agnes Sharp and her band of geriatric misfits aren't about to let their age get in the way of solving a mystery! When an old friend is violently murdered, Agnes and her crew apply their skills honed during lifetimes in the police, clandestine services, military, and perhaps some other rather less savory corners of society to find the perpetrator before the bumbling officers in charge of the investigation can pin the murder (or is it murders?) on them.

The book is at once a cozy mystery and a startlingly candid exploration of the aging process and what constitutes a good life (and a good death). While the character development is choppy at times and somewhat uneven, the story's empathy for the motley cast runs deep. Our culture tends to overlook older adults, writing them off as "past their prime". Yet, quietly, this story asks us to look again. Agnes and her friends are complimentary ilks of unique, courageous, and endearing. They are living lives of agency and purpose, despite sore joints and lapses of memory. More to the point, they are up to giving the so-called professionals a run for their money.

A fun, covertly meaningful read. I sincerely hope Agnes Sharp and her housemates are given an opportunity for another mysterious outing.

Agnes Sharp and her friends at Sunset Hall (a house share for seniors) are shocked to learn a body has been discovered next door --- but they're relieved it isn't the body of their friend Lillith, which is currently hidden in their shed. That problem could be solved if they can find their neighbor's killer and pin Lillith's death on them as well.
With that plan decided, the group begin their investigation in their quaint town of Duck End where they're up against shady characters, local authorities, and their own dark secrets.

I wanted to love this story of quirky geriatrics solving mysteries but I couldn't get past comparing it to the incredibly charming Thursday Murder Club series. The location, characters, and humor are so very much alike. While this book holds some charm in the humor, I found it overly long and a chore to finish.

Thanks to NetGalley and Soho Crime for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not a fan of cozy mysteries and I would not have read this one except that the description was so odd. I'm glad I took the plunge. The book is more Agatha Christie (if Dame A could be silly) than a cozy, a TV producer would say "zany!". Anyway, the important thing to understand from the beginning is that all of the persons of advanced years who live in this sprawling old house, were once cops or spies. They may not be fully copos mentis, but but they definitely have skills. And there is a tortoise.

2.5 ⭐️ This was… interesting. I expected quirky characters but these were quirky to a fault. The MC is unreliable and literally delusional, and several times I had to say, “wait what? how did we get here???” The plot line was messy, and information was fed to the reader in a sporadic and confusing way.

Almost immediately we know Marshall killed Lilith, but it’s not until nearly 80% in that we find out why, and the whole time everyone knows he did it and we just have to accept that he killed her and no one in the house is mad about it??? What??? 😂

Maybe it’s partially because this was a translation, and the formatting of the ARC I received was totally messed up, but it was just difficult to follow. Just messy storytelling 🤷🏼‍♀️

Still, it was interesting enough that I finished it! So that’s a plus.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital arc in exchange for my honest review 🫡