To all appearances, Dan Chase is a harmless retiree in Vermont with two big mutts and a grown daughter he keeps in touch with by phone. But most sixty-year-old widowers don’t have multiple driver’s licenses, savings stockpiled in banks across the country, and a bugout kit with two Beretta Nanos stashed in the spare bedroom closet. Most have not spent decades on the run.

Thirty-five years ago, as a young hotshot in army intelligence, Chase was sent to Libya to covertly assist a rebel army. When the plan turned sour, Chase reacted according to his own ideas of right and wrong, triggering consequences he could never have anticipated. And someone still wants him dead because of them. Just as he had begun to think himself finally safe, Chase must reawaken his survival instincts to contend with the history he has spent his adult life trying to escape. Armed mercenaries, spectacularly crashed cars, a precarious love interest, and an unforgettable chase scene through the snow—this is lethal plotting from one of the best in crime fiction.

How was it?

So I finally picked up The Old Man by Thomas Perry. I absolutely wanted to read this book before I dove into the Disney+ series starring Jeff Bridges. The title of the book, the genre – a thriller – was enough to intrigue me into reading.

From the outside, Dan Chase looks like a quiet guy living in Vermont with his two dogs and a pretty uneventful life. But of course, that’s just the surface. Thirty-five years ago, as part of army intelligence, he made one very big, very dangerous decision in Libya, and he’s been living with the fallout ever since. And now? That past is finally catching up with him. It’s not the most original premise, but it’s about an older guy, a retiree, and it sneaks up on you in the nicest way.

What I loved about this book is how it unfolds. It doesn’t rely on flashy twists every few chapters, instead, it slowly pulls you in, revealing layers as Dan is forced to confront the people chasing him down. It’s more methodical than adrenaline-fueled; you can see Dan’s experience at work, but when the action hits, it hits hard. Think: car crashes, trained killers, and one heck of a chase through the snow.

That said, not everything worked for me. There’s a subplot with Zoe and Peter that goes from casual to marriage talk faster than you can say “situationship,” and I definitely got whiplash from that. Also, there’s a late in the game reveal that just felt… unnecessary. Like a last-minute addition to patch up a character’s backstory and instead of adding depth, it kinda took me out of it.

At times, the pacing felt uneven, almost like some sections were added in later to answer questions no one really asked. I get that rewrites happen, but the tone shifts were noticeable enough that they pulled me out of the story for a second.

Still, if you’re into slow-burn thrillers with a lead who’s older, smarter, and tougher than everyone expects, The Old Man delivers. It’s a quieter kind of crime fiction, but it’s quite sharp, layered, and undeniably compelling.

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