★The Bold, the Brave, and the Wrinkled: Retirement Just Got Rowdy
Barry and Beth, high school sweethearts separated by time and circumstance, find themselves reunited at the Blue Loon Village senior living center in Minneapolis. Now both seventy, they rekindle their relationship only to discover how differently time has shaped them. Beth has blossomed into a free spirit with a goth flair, while Barry has transformed into the curmudgeon he swore in his youth he’d never become.
Despite their differences, neither senior is content to settle into a quiet life at the Blue Loon Village. As they reminisce about their unfulfilled teenage dream of changing the world, Beth convinces Barry that it’s never too late to make a difference. In fact, their age provides them with an advantage—the minimal consequences they’d face if caught doing something illegal. Inspired by their past and emboldened by their age, they set off on a daring road trip across America as Silver Squad vigilantes with nothing to lose.
Soon joined by Jenny—a woman in her forties on the run from her abusive cop-husband—the Silver Squad’s humorous, sometimes perilous escapades include robbing the prosperous to feed the homeless, rescuing drowning kittens, challenging unethical alligator hunters, and confronting a mass shooter with only a can of SPAM.
And sometimes, when a woman tires of running, she turns around and fights. As Jenny’s fear turns into courage, she vows to seize control—and give her husband the surprise of a lifetime.
The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles is a comedic novel that celebrates living life to the fullest while tackling the serious issues of spousal abuse, animal cruelty, mass shootings, and homelessness.
When high school sweethearts Barry and Beth discover, after a lifetime apart, that they are both living in the same rules-heavy, soul-deadening Minneapolis retirement community, the 70-year-olds agree that there is still much more left to this life—why not become septuagenarian vigilantes? Together, they hit the road in a 2011 Mustang, eager to right some wrongs, challenge miscarriages of justice, and keep their lively chatter going. (“I wish you wouldn’t call it croaking.” “Would you prefer expire?” “No! That makes us sound like we’re cartons of milk.”) Now, if they can keep from falling asleep on stakeouts, the bad guys of roadside America will be on the ropes, as Essen (author of the Time Is Irreverent trilogy) spins a warm, easy-going travel comedy that boasts some slyly hidden meditations on growing old.While Essen’s comedy sparkles in scenes of break-ins, Spam theft, high-speed chases, line dancing, and debates about what to name the duo’s organization, The Silver Squad also succeeds as drama and character study. With late addition Jenny, first encountered in Iowa on the run from her abusive husband, Barry and Beth find themselves in many delicate, albeit humorous, situations that touch on American crises, from school shootings to the epidemic of homelessness. Some scenes are edged with real tension, and readers will find themselves holding their breath as the pages cannot turn fast enough. When Jenny tries breaking into her husband’s house, the writing is as sharply honed for suspense as any thriller.
Essen enters edge-of-the-seat territory, though the prevailing tone is one of do-gooding coziness. Essen’s heroes offer welcome relief from the usual vigilante tropes of injustice being fought with violence, capes, or guns. In these golden-years capers, Essen finds a fresh sweet spot between adult thriller fun, a spirited sense of moral outrage, and endless wisecracks and insights about old age.
Takeaway: Sparkling road-trip comedy of retiree crimefighters taking the U.S. by storm.
Comparable Titles: Robert Thorogood’s The Marlow Murder Club, Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg’s The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
“The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles is a fun road trip story about finding purpose and meaning as you grow older.”—Independent Book Review
“A delightful mix of observational humor, introspection, and respectful affection for the older generation, The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles is a scenic road trip through the country with a gratifying destination.”—Indies Today (5 Stars)
“A smart, funny tale of a Good Samaritan crime spree.”—Kirkus Reviews (Recommended)
“An original and fun read (think senior citizen versions of Thelma & Louise) from start to finish, The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles by author Marty Essen is a deftly crafted and extraordinary story that is will have a very special appeal to readers with an interest in inherently fascinating novels that imaginatively blend later-in-life romances with elements of an action/adventure.”—Midwest Book Review
“The Silver Squad: Rebels With Wrinkles by Marty Essen is a delightful and daring story that redefines adventure in the golden years. (It’s) perfect for readers who enjoy a blend of comedy, crime, and adventure, all centered around characters who defy stereotypes about aging. With its lively characters and uplifting message, Marty Essen’s novel is an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that will leave readers cheering for Barry and Beth’s unique brand of justice.”—Readers’ Favorite Reviews (5 Stars)
“The Silver Squad is an antic caper that proceeds from one wacky interlude to another, leading to a satisfying conclusion. . . . Recommended for a feel-good read.”—Reedsy
