An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed

Swedish writer Helene Tursten introduces an innovative demon into the mystery genre, a character named Maud who is an irrepressibly astute retired old lady with the habit of casually eliminating anyone who gets in her way or offends her moral standards. Fortunately these victims are nefarious in nature and the world is just as well rid of them. To elude the practitioners of justice, this cunning elderly retiree hides behind the expected stereotype of old folks and feigns confusion, deafness, absentmindedness, eye problems, and all the infirmities and idiosyncrasies associated with the senior generation. This perceptive female manages to outfox the younger sleuths who might suspect her involvement in related crimes.

Half a dozen short stories make up this tidy little paperback, tales which introduce the reader to Maud’s genesis in Sweden and follow her to retirement in South Africa, where the reader accompanies her on a delightfully realistic travel tour. These stories will elicit chuckles along with reminders of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales, as this irrepressible spinster pluckily follows her own decided path. A delightful and breezy read recommended for all ages.