Maud is eighty-eight but thank goodness she still has her health and a lively mind. She spent her life teaching and taking care of her family and now is her time to enjoy herself. But death follows Maud wherever she goes.
In this anthology of six interconnected stories, Helene Tursten follows Maud's life and her murders. Whether it is due to taking care of her sister, having a job Maud wants, committing a crime or just becoming a nuisance to Maud, those who cross or inconvenience Maud seem to end up dead. And really, who would suspect a little old lady?

Maud takes a trip to South Africa on a tour. Capetown is her favorite city and she can always find something to do there. Events transpire that mean she will soon be spending more time there than ever. Maud may have finally found happiness at age eighty-eight.

This is the second book in this series. Helene Tursten is a Swedish author who worked in various medical jobs before becoming an author. She has joined the group that is riding the elderly genre in literature that is currently popular. Maud is cunning and knows exactly when to hide behind her age and the assumptions others make about the elderly. This book is recommended for mystery readers.

This was an entertaining quick read of an elderly woman and stories of her history of deadly action.
I did not realize this was book 2 in a series and perhaps having read book 1 would have benefitted to the story. As a stand-alone it just felt like a collection of stories which is not a style I tend to favor.

3 stars as I don't think it's a must read or anything that will stick with me long term but as I said it was entertaining and a nice palate cleansing book.

Thank you Highbridge Audio and NetGalley for the listening copy of this one.

I personally enjoyed the first book better than this one, but it was still pleasant. The book once again follows the story of Maud who is an 88 year old woman, who also kills people. The premise is enjoyable, the stories that co-mingle are entertaining, but it lacks the panache of the first one. I can't put my finger on just what it was. Maybe it's because I was listening to it, instead of trying to physically read it. I didn't particularly enjoy the delivery.

This collection of interlinked short stories wasn’t for me. I was really glad that it was short. The blurb describes 88 year old Maud as “everyone’s favorite octogenarian killer” and I was expecting some amusing satire. There was nothing amusing about this book. The first part consisted of flashbacks to various situations in which Maud had killed or attacked people, including one poor school teacher who had the nerve to want her job back after a leave of absence. Maud was really just an awful person and as far as I was concerned, she didn’t redeem herself by becoming lady bountiful in the second half of the book. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher. 2.5 stars

I was unaware that this was part of a series of books; should have paid attention. It was okay, well written, but not much happened, It seemed like it jumped around a lot, but if I had read other books in the series, then that may not have mattered. I found the narrator annoying.

What is it about this elderly lady and how enthralling she can be. The petty, horrific crimes go so far to challenge the opinions and historic underestimation of old women. What a series.

This was great! I thought the narrator did a really good job. I typically listen at 1.5x speed and it was still very clear and understandable. I liked how Maud's story was wrapped up. I enjoyed this book more than the first in the series.

A rare case where the second is just as fun as the first!
It's so much fun watching inside the mine of an old woman who is much smarter than she lets on.
This series of short stories is excellent all the way through, and ends on a high note!

Not at all what I expected. I really wouldn’t recommend. Maybe if the synopsis grabs you but all in all would not a fan

Delightfully devious - that says it all. I really loved An ElderlyMust Not Be Crossed. Maud is a morally gray, contemporary Marple. She is such a pleasure and unafraid to impose justice, her kind of justice.

The best way I have to describe this book is a dark cozy mystery and I am here for it! I'll definitely be picking up the first book in this series. Helene Tursten's narrative is intriguing, compelling and dry is all the best ways. Ann Richardson's narration really honoured the pacing and flow of the narrative and helped bring Maud to life.

It's hard to say anything about this without major spoilers, but . . . this was so intriguing and unusual. I think it would be a great choice for book groups.


Review copy provided by publisher.

This is the second Elderly Lady book I have listened to and they are so much fun. Maud is almost 90 years old, but she is no pushover. She is smart as a tack and always a scheme or plan to carry out to benefit either herself or someone she cares about. In the last book she was suspected of murder and the police are still sniffing around, so she decides to take a holiday to get out of town. She heads off to South Africa with cash in her pocket and her bank account after selling off some family heirlooms. Here she once again has adventures that put her in the eyes of the police, but her skill at pretending to be a doddering old woman, pull her out of the frying pan.

This book is made up of six interconnected stories, the majority set in Johannesburg, South Africa. Years before, she had visited and had fond memories. In this book, we get a look at her past in memories about neighbourhood boys tormenting her sister, a fellow teacher who jeopardized Maud's position at an all-girls school, and the son of a friend who was taking advantage of his mother, and more. All these memories come up while she is trying to get over the situation she was involved in the previous spring. Once she arrives in Johannesburg, she pretends to be too tired and weak to avoid tours of places she had visited in the past or sites that held no interest for her. When she pleaded with the tour leader that she needed to rest, he was sympathetic and understanding. Once the group left for the daily sightseeing, Maud set out on her own to visit places that interested her. She later acquires a heavy walking stick, not that she needs it for a cane, she carries it to bash anyone who might need it. Of course, trouble seems to find Maud and she has to come up with solutions to problems that arise. Maud is clever, inventive, and a bit wicked when it comes to those solutions, but it is done with the best of intentions. I enjoy reading about Maud and her exploits, even though most of them involve murder or bodily harm. I just hope I am never on Maud's "hit list". I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Ann Richardson. She does a fantastic job of giving voices to various characters, both male and female, using tone, expression and inflection. The number of characters she is able to give a unique voice to is amazing. A well paced story to listen to over an afternoon, at about 4 hours at 1.25 speed. I recommend this book to those who enjoy a humorous look at murder, especially starring an octogenarian (almost) perpetrator.

I really enjoyed listening to the first Elderly Lady book. The stories were distinct but flowed together well, and I never knew what to expect from Maude or quite how to feel about what she did. Definitely a book I would, and already have, recommend! This is the second book, and I didn't enjoy the narrator nearly as much in this one. Her Swedish pronunciations were terrible and really distracted me, although a non-Swedish speaker probably wouldn't notice that. The story was good, but it seemed to drag more than the first book, and one of Maude's stories was basically a repeat of one from the first book. Cramming so many stories as "memories" that arise during her travel to South Africa felt a little forced and disjointed. I still enjoyed Maude's adventures and wily character though, and I will recommend to readers who enjoyed the first book.

Maud might be close to 90, but don’t fall for her sweet, old lady ways. If she thinks someone deserve what they have coming for them, she’ll find a way to do it and still not get caught! I didn’t realize until after I finished this book that there was a prequel, which I feel like I should have started with because maybe it would have more action to it. This was a quick listen and while it did keep me wanting to hear more about Maud, it was lacking in the crime department for me. I feel like some parts were too slow and I found myself waiting for the action to happen.

Thank you Netgalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a fun addition to the "Elderly Lady" series! Maud is back and just as mischievous as before! I love her fake hearing aids and inner monologue as she decides who gets to live and who is just too inconvenient in her life!

4 stars but only because there's no way to top the first book!!

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 HighBridge Audio for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This is a heartwarming tale of psychopathy and murders. This book follows the adventure of an octogenarian Swedish woman, as she travels to South Africa for vacation. As the book tells the current story, along the way it uses flashbacks to illustrate the instincts and nature of our heroine. I would consider this to be "cozy mystery" as there is murder without goriness. The audio book reader did good job translating the cool persona of the main character. I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley (audiobook) and Soho and Edelweiss (ebook) for advanced copies of this book and audiobook.

I read An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good about a year ago and really enjoyed it. It was comprised of separate short stories and was an enjoyable, quick read. When I saw this sequel on both NetGalley and Edelweiss, I grabbed it. The format is a little bit different this time. Instead of a series of short stories, this one is a novel. I wasn't sure I would like it at first, but in the end, I enjoyed it as much as the first book, maybe even a little more. This time around, Maud is on vacation in South Africa but trouble has followed her all the way from her home in Sweden. People around her are still disappearing and dying. Surely, 88-year old Maud can't have anything to do with these cases.

I especially loved the ending of this one!

I was not expecting this book to be what it is! I was thinking a Mrs Polifax or Murder She Wrote type of story. Wrong on my part. Maud is an 88 year old Swedish woman with no family. She is an interesting person before one finds out her naughty secrets. The book was funny in a rather dark way. I had the audio version which was read by a woman with a Swedish accent. I am going to get the other books by Helene Tursten.

I saw this as a what if Miss Marple became Maude,a doddering old lady who could run aside the law and commit heinous murders. Never to be captured and to reflect upon her life as one well done.. yes I would recommend it to a friend, but preface it to say this is a story of a doddering old lady who committed heinous murders. I was given an early audiobook by #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.which I must say I enjoyed seeing what a doddering little lady is capable of doing.