Three elderly (though they turn out to be spritely) ladies, acquainted through their Pilates class, are taking a post-session cup of coffee in a cafĂ© when the door bursts open and a distressed teenage girl enters. She asks for help, someone is after her, so she heads for the washroom. Just in time, as an older man comes in asking after ‘his daughter’. He is clearly a nasty piece of work (they subsequently christen him the toad). The ladies feign ignorance and see him off the premises, then spirit the girl, Nina, away.
Thus, Meg, Grace, and Daphne form a band and make a pact to protect Nina at all costs – which may, they realise, extend to eliminating the toad entirely – murder if necessary.
As their amateur efforts (which alternate between protecting and rescuing the girl) ensue, the back story and unsavoury exploitation of Nina is revealed. The back stories of the ladies are not so much given as hinted at, enough though to join the dots and realise this quest has given them new purpose and sorely needed bonds of friendship.
As they pursue the aim of eliminating the toad, they pick up other odd characters that help, or try to, including an incompetent hit man and woman (on which point, is that all there is to a beginner’s guide to murder – hiring an assassin?).
The story is carried forward in the four points of view – Meg, Grace, Daphne, and Nina – which gives some variety of narrative, but not much as while the three old ladies’ histories are different, they tend to waffle on in similar style. It’s all a bit twee, which given the horrific experience of Nina, jars somewhat.
If darkly comic was
the aim, it falls short in both. Sex slavery is difficult to joke about, and
the murderous plans of the three sweet old ladies (despite murky deeds in their
past) lack both credibility and grit.