An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good

Maud is an irascible 88-year-old Swedish woman with no family, no friends, and... no qualms about a little murder. This funny, irreverent story collection by Helene Tursten, author of the Irene Huss investigations, features two-never-before translated stories that will keep you laughing all the way to the retirement home.

Ever since her darling father's untimely death when she was only eighteen, Maud has lived in the family's spacious apartment in downtown Gothenburg rent-free, thanks to a minor clause in a hastily negotiated contract. That was how Maud learned that good things can come from tragedy. Now in her late eighties, Maud contents herself with traveling the world and surfing the net from the comfort of her father's ancient armchair. It's a solitary existence, and she likes it that way.

Over the course of her adventures—or misadventures—this little bold lady will handle a crisis with a local celebrity who has her eyes on Maud's apartment, foil the engagement of her long-ago lover, and dispose of some pesky neighbors. But when the local authorities are called to investigate a dead body found in Maud's apartment, will Maud finally become a suspect?

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Published Nov 6, 2018

184 pages

Average rating: 6.9

173 RATINGS

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We're a Des Moines based book club that reads a fair amount of non-fiction. We discuss, but not within the confines of publisher provided discussion questions. Meeting are monthly, we also try to have a possible social activity in there too.

Community Reviews

Rainpatr
Dec 20, 2022
Fluffy, quick read about an old lady who was DEFINITELY up to no good.
YessieXIV
Jan 10, 2026
10/10 stars
So much fun to read!
Mary Dotson
Nov 12, 2025
8/10 stars
I picked this book up at a bookstore when traveling. I found it in the mystery section, but quickly realized after purchasing that there are no mysteries in this novel: the central character is a killer nearly everyone underestimates (and she counts on that). With dry dark humor, Tursten takes us into the mind of a 89 year old woman who is perfectly willing to put annoying circumstances at right, even when that requires murder. The short stories are tantalizing and entertaining.
JordanBro93
Mar 31, 2025
10/10 stars
Each book in this series gets me every time! I love that Maude is the woman she is (aside from the obvious lol) but that she sees what she wants and goes after it and doesn't let anyone stand her way.
wardbunch
Mar 26, 2025
8/10 stars
No words necessary. Fun little story

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