Sixty Is The New Assassin by Shesh - Book Review

Publication Date: 17th Nov 2024 

Genre: Humorous Cozy Mystery 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: A good debut book 

Ishmael Dollah is a sixty-year-old retired CEO living in Singapore with his wife, Nysa. They have a son Shahed and daughter-in-law Marianna, who also enjoy busy lives with successful careers. 

Everything is good, or so Ishmael thinks until he finds out that his daughter-in-law is having an affair. Being the kind to get things done, he applies his years of experience to create a checklist to handle the matter. Soon, he realizes that his new life gives him much satisfaction and enjoyment! 

The story comes in the first-person POV of Ishmael Dollah with a few interludes (also in the first-person) from Nysa, Shahed, Marianna, and another character. 

My Thoughts: 

Sixty-something sleuths and assassins are a thing right now. There are quite a few books in the subgenre though I read only two or three. The premise here felt fresh despite using the same old family drama trope. 

For a debut book, I’d say the writing style is pretty easy to read. It doesn’t try to pack a lot of themes, either— just the ones associated with the plotline. 

The first-person narrative allows readers to know the MC. Whether you like him or not depends on your taste but he sure manages to entertain the readers. I like how the snippets from his past are woven into the narrative. Aligning his current plan with management lessons works well for me. I’m a list girl myself, so anyone who is systematic, planned, and careful in their approach will get my approval. 

There’s some repetition throughout. Some of it cannot be avoided but others could have been replaced with new detail (this could also have added more depth to the characters). 

Nysa won me over as the story progressed. I began to enjoy her interludes the most. The others were there just to provide info (these could have been in limited third-person. We don’t need all POVs to be in the first person). 

The setting (Singapore) is well utilized and an integral part of the plot. There aren’t any excessive descriptions but just enough for us to get an idea of the place. I wouldn’t have minded a rough map, though. 

There are many mentions of food. Yummm! That’s a foodie family, and man, they made me hungry! That said, I found out dosa is spelled thosai in Singapore. Oh well! 

The mystery, as such, is easy to put together. There are enough twists but I guessed them all. It may not offer anything special to mystery lovers. However, the main character carries the plot well on his shoulders. 

There is some humor. Some cheeky stuff that might bring out a few half smiles. Despite the slow beginning, the narration picks up pace quickly. I finished 75% of the book in one sitting. 

To summarize, Sixty Is The New Assassin is a solid debut with a Singaporean 60-something lead character who has an affinity for lists and planning. This could very well become a series, though it works well as a standalone. If there’s a book two, I’ll be sure to read it. 

I received a complimentary copy of the book.