Ms Tursten never disappoints. Highly implausible but delicious nevertheless. Really fun read. Looking forward to the next book by this author.

I can’t overstate my love for Maud enough — this almost-ninety-year-old woman, who never looks for trouble but always seems to find it. On a trip to South Africa (to get away from authorities that suspect she knows more than she lets on about they dead body in her apartment), thoughts from her past are brought to the surface. Even in Johannesburg, she can’t escape the trouble that seems to follow her.

This book, and the previous one in the series, are delightful. Maud is a snarky, well-traveled, independent octogenarian…who also does murder, and then cover it up with her “little old lady” act. Sometimes. Well, only when the murder is warranted and well-deserved by the victim. Obviously.

The narrator, Ann Richardson, really brought Maud to life.

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I somehow missed the first one; I shall definitely go back a read it. I wasn't sure what to make of this at first. It's listed as short stories, but they are so smoothly interlocked that it really does read like a novel.
And what a fascinating character. Not exactly lovable, but you can't help rooting for her. Then you realize what you're rooting for. Er, oops. But really. She's not exactly a serial killer. She doesn't NEED to kill; there's no pressure building up; she doesn't go out looking for it. There are just these people and situations that unfortunately make it necessary. That's all. And she explains it all so logically. The title is extremely apt.
Recommended.

Helene Tursten has crafted a deviously compelling character that I never know if I'm supposed to cheer for or cheer against. In Maud's second book, we learn more about her childhood and how those experiences have influenced her decisions and reactions about her current day "problems."
Wonderfully written and entertaining, An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed is an excellent follow-up to the first novella.
Thank you to Netgalley and Soho Press for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

This was one weird book; I’m not into people taking the law into their own hands and it escapes me why anyone would find this story appealing. I found it had no redeeming quality at all.

I didn't think it was possible for Maud to top her An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good shenanigans but I was so, so wrong and never have I been so glad for that to be the case. The journey into her past was a macabre delight and the second half of this volume was an unexpected treat in more ways than one. An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed is an absolute treasure and I very much hope Maude proves herself immortal because I will read books about her until I myself am no longer of the world.

I love Maud! Such a quirky and refreshing novel by Helene Tursten.
I have not read book one, but will be adding to my TBR list.
Thank you NetGalley!

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed follows the adventures of Maud as she murders her way through life's little difficulties. From childhood to old age, Maul manipulates and murders mostly in a misguided attempt to help others (or at least that's what she tells herlself!) The exception occurs, however, when Maud covets the job of another woman at the school where she teaches.

Maud is a complex character. She is the caregiver for her agoraphobic sister, Charlotte, who is a concert level pianist but has mental health issues that require her to have nearly constant care. But, at heart, Maud is a solitary, selfish character. Will Charlotte survive to die a natural death?

Maud has only one friend. Will Maud kill to "protect" her from her needy son?

Maud is also a world traveler. A s An Elderly Lady begins, Maud,, now in her 80s and often pretending to be a little old lady, is about to set off on a luxury trip to Africa. She is also a suspect in yet another murder. While in Africa, she decides to leave her native Sweden and settle permanently in Cape Town. First, though, she must return to Sweden to conclude remaining affairs there. Will she be arrested before she can return to Africa? Or will she get away with yet another murder?

On the surface, An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed is a light, entertaining, suspenseful novel. Tursten simultaneously invites the reader to think about what constitutes murder and whether murder is ever justified. An Elderly Lady is thoroughly engrossing,. Tursten keeps us the edge of our seats waiting to see what Maud will do next. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thanks to Helen Tursten, Soho Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Everyone's favourite octogenarian killer is back in this new collection of stories by Swedish crime writer Helene Tursten that is sure to have you in stitches. Eighty-eight-year-old Maud is never looking for trouble, but it always seems to find her. Just when she has settled back into her favourite armchair following the tragic and mysterious death of an antiques dealer--in her very own apartment of all places--Gothenburg inspectors Irene Huss and Embla Nystroem return to her doorstep, ruining a perfectly good afternoon. Even as Maud deftly dodges their pesky questions with the skill of an Olympic gymnast a fifth of her age, she wonders if suspicion has fallen on her, little old lady that she is.

Eager for a change of scenery and an excuse to skip town, Maud sells off some of her family heirlooms and splurges on a trip to South Africa. In these six interlocking stories, the past and the present collide in Maud's mind as she thinks back to a string of unfortunate incidents--from the terrible neighbourhood boys who tormented her sister, to a fellow teacher who jeopardized Maud's position at an all-girls school, to the ne're-do-well son of a friend, and more--all while attempting to move on from the bloody ordeal last spring. But when she lands in Johannesburg, she finds that certain problems seem to be following her. Luckily, Maud is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands.

After all, she has so many more trips to take, and she wouldn't want anyone to get in her way. This is another delightful, mischievous and compulsive collection of six interlinked short stories featuring the wonderfully irascible and acerbic Maud, the loveable, idiosyncratic murderess from Gothenburg city, Sweden, and she is every bit as charming, morbid and sprightly for her age on this second outing with her wicked side certainly still getting her into all manner of scrapes. Her methods of killing are as methodical and ingenious as ever, and her motives for committing the crimes just as sketchy. This is such a refreshingly original series with entertaining adventures full of both humour and tension, prose that keeps you reading, plenty of unexpected twists and a truly irresistible protagonist. More, please. Highly recommended.

Maud is not one of those sweet little grannies that offers you milk and cookies. There are cookie recipes included ... but I'd think twice about trying them. Almost 90 years old, she's still spry, travels alone, lives alone, and has a penchant for using her age as a barrier to doing anything she doesn't want to do.

Like .. talking to the detectives about a dead man found in her apartment who had been there for several days before being noticed. When questioned by them, she immediately acted confused, had forgotten where her hearing aids were (they were fake, by the way). She wonders if the detectives suspect she had something to do with the man's death.

Death has always seemed to follow Maud, as the stories in this novella will show. There are 6 interlocking stories, her memories of her past, as well as something from the here and now that needs to be dealt with.

Luckily, Maud is no stranger to taking matters into her own hands . . . even if it means she has to get a little blood on them in the process.

I have to confess .. being a 'mature' woman, the tile of this novella drew me in like a moth to a flame. Who would have believed the things this elderly woman has done during her lifetime? The reader is taken along with her as she remembers the past ... the things she has done ... and what she still wants to accomplish. It's a compelling read. This is the 2nd in this series of 2 books ... Book 1 was AN ELDERLY LADE IS UP TO NO GOOD. I highly recommend reading in order. This was translated by Marlaine Delargy who did a terrific job.

Many thanks to the author / Soho Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction novella. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Maud is an eighty-eight-year-old who looks younger than her years. She also takes pride in the practical solutions she devises when faced with formidable challenges. In the six stories that comprise "An Elderly Lady Must not be Crossed," by Helene Tursten, (capably translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy), we get a picture of Maud's unique capabilities. Let's not beat around the bush; Maud has sociopathic tendencies. When people get in her way or inflict harm on those she cares about, Maud swings into action. She ponders: How can I dispose of men or women whom I detest without ending up in prison? Fortunately for her, aside from being a canny killer, Maud is also a fine actress. When the police interrogate her, she plays the role of a hard-of-hearing, doddering, and confused octogenarian to perfection.

Tursten's earlier book, "An Elderly Lady is up to No Good" was an appetizer, but this sequel is a full-course meal. Maud shares sorrowful reminiscences from her past, such as the challenges she faced as the caregiver of a sick older sister, Charlotte. In addition, we observe Maud's outrage when a more experienced educator threatens to undermine her professionally. In the book's most compelling section, Maud, who has traveled many times before, sets out on a grand tour of South Africa. She is delighted with her high-end accommodations, sumptuous meals, and exotic sights, and has a warm reunion with an old acquaintance.

How did Maude become such a tough-minded opportunist with a shaky moral compass? During her formative years, she was a loner who was hemmed in by adult responsibilities. Now she is long since retired after having worked diligently for decades. Not only does she treat herself to the finer things in life, but she also displays a surprising spirit of generosity towards women in need. Tursten's humor enlivens this fast-moving work of fiction, and Maud's combination of crankiness, intelligence, stealth, and benevolence make for a winning and off-beat combination. "An Elderly Lady" is a fantasy, of course, and I choose to embrace it in the spirit of good fun that the author undeniably intended.

This elderly lady will not be crossed. Ever, and at all. She’s served out judgement and punishment, and also a smidge of self-preservation. Cross her in the slightest, and you’ve sealed your doom for sure. Post war Sweden life is hard enough for a nice quiet lady. This quick read is perfect for those longing for vengeance and justice. Beware the quiet nice lady though- she’s always got a plan up her sleeve.

A well-written, quick read about an octogenarian who … no spoilers in my reviews - not someone I would want to cross. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I would have read the beginning of the series (oops - didn’t know) - perhaps I would have liked Maude then? I thought the dialogue was fun and grabbed me from the beginning - which is always a welcome experience when starting a book. Heartfelt thanks to Soho Crime for gifting a copy of this book. I’m grateful.

Part of me wants to be just like Maud. This woman is eighty-nine and still more than able to go on safari. She's got all her marbles. Her health and mobility are good. She's got enough money to live the life that she wants. Good for her! There's just one fly in the ointment: her attitude towards taking a life-- and this is one reason why some people will not see the humor in these stories, and why I call them a guilty pleasure. This is fiction, not real life. In fiction, isn't it nice to be able to do away with a thoroughly nasty human who's causing harm to others? I figure as long as I think a little fictional murder is okay does not stray into the real world, I should be okay.

What's so unsettling is Maud herself. She's irascible, yet once you learn of the life she's had to lead, she's sympathetic, too. You're not supposed to feel sympathetic toward a killer. The humor these stories contain can also keep you off balance. Just the thought of a little old eighty-nine-year-old woman carrying out a murder or two... shouldn't she be sitting in front of the fire with her knitting?

One of the things I found most enjoyable about this latest collection of Maud stories is that Maud gets drawn outside of herself and becomes involved in the lives of others. It's how she plans the next stage of her life that really put a smile on my face. I'm hoping that we might hear from this little old lady at least one more time.

88 year old murderess Maud decides to avoid some nosy detectives and travel to Africa. We learn more about Maud''s backstory along with her newest adventures. Maud is a delight and I'm hoping to read stories about her.

Pros: After loving the previous collection—An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good—I was thrilled to see a follow up collection featuring Maud, the octogenarian serial killer. I love the premise of an elderly woman being able to get away with murder because people disregard her and the commentary it offers on agism. I found myself cheering for the murderer in these stories, which makes me appreciate the author’s craft.

Cons: This isn’t a con, but I do suggest that readers read the first collection in the series before this collection.

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for the opportunity to read this book

I’ve shared this review on Goodreads and StoryGraph.

This is a great book! When you tell people it’s about an old woman who has killed quite a few people some react with horror, but actually you end up rooting for Maud by the end of the book.

I enjoyed the format of the story, which sees Maud recount various episodes from her past while she daydreams or dozes in the present. It’s fantastic that, as an 89 year old woman, she is still eluding the cops.

Maud’s crimes have largely been committed for good reasons, and her final escapade while on holiday in South Africa, where she takes action to transform a family’s life for the better, is lovely to read.

There’s a strong sense of fighting for women’s rights throughout the book, and I love how blunt and ‘no nonsense’ Maud is about everything. She is unapologetically herself, making no concessions to others’ expectations of her, and it’s refreshing to have a character like that. Maud uses people’s stereotypes about old women to fool people and get what she wants.

I read this in a couple of days as it was so readable, and will look at the author’s other work as I enjoyed this book so much.

Maud, who resides in Sweden, is 89 years old and in good health. She is taking a trip to South Africa with the best flight and luxury accommodations. We learn some of Maud's past, and she has made some decisions to be rid of people she finds annoyingly inconvenient, and so far has not been caught. She's kind of likable, though, as we learn towards the end of the book. Marlaine Delargy again does an exceptional job translating the original Swedish into English. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Eighty eight year old, Maud, is definitely not taking life lying down, in this installment, we learn about some times in her past when she took matters into her own hands to get what she wants. Told in a collection of flashbacks while on a flight to South Africa, she is still in a bit of trouble from the actions she took in he first book.

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first one with Maud. In this one, some of her tales of the things she did seemed more self serving, and not necessary I suppose? I was rooting for Maud in her previous book, and in this one I just didn’t see her as the same kind of ‘heroine’..

She is still entertaining though and her exploits were cleverly executed. I guess for me, it just didn’t live up to the first book.

Thank you to Soho Crime who sent me an eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review!

The protagonist from An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good is back and this time she's on a flight to South Africa, remembering her younger years. It turns out that Maude has always known how to get what she wants and always been ruthless in making that happen. She's also surprisingly likeable and I hated to see the book end.