…deliciously noir…crisp, mordantly funny tales…Here's hoping Tursten brings back the flinty homicidal octogenarian for more adventures.

★ 09/17/2018
The five stories in this exceptional collection from Tursten (the Irene Huss mysteries) feature Maud, a seemingly mild-mannered 88-year-old Gothenburg resident who’s perfectly willing to use wiles and sometimes deadly force to defend her independent lifestyle. In the delightful “An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems,” a pushy neighbor has designs on Maud’s apartment, and that can’t be tolerated. When a gold digger hooks an old beau of Maud’s in “An Old Lady on Her Travels,” Maud decides to intervene, showing that she’s also ready to right wrongs that threaten others. Perhaps the best entry is “An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmas Time,” in which Maud cleverly puts a young clerk in his place and rids herself of an abusive neighbor. In the last two tales, she deals ruthlessly with a greedy antique dealer. Readers will be amused by how sharp-as-a-tack Maud plays the forgetful, fuzzy-brained old lady to achieve her ends. With any luck, she’ll be back for an encore. (Nov.)

An ABA IndieNext Selection for November 2018
A Loan Stars Top 10 Pick November 2018

Praise for An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good

“[A] deliciously noir short story collection . . . Tursten takes readers deep inside Maud’s head as she plots the demise of anyone who crosses her . . . Here’s hoping Tursten brings back the flinty homicidal octogenarian for more adventures.”
—Tina Jordan, The New York Times

“Witty . . . All pay the ultimate price for outraging this dangerous octogenarian. Will the police ever realize that sweet, frail, confused old Maud is in fact sharp as a tack and just as ruthless?”
—The Wall Street Journal

"Eighty-eight-year-old Maud, a Swedish cult favorite, freely dispatches greedy neighbors, selfish lovers, and potential thieves in four linked stories that push elderly empowerment to grimly funny heights in this Swedish cult favorite."
—The Boston Globe

“This elderly lady stops at nothing in her desire for a peaceful existence. I ought to feel guilty for enjoying her crimes, but I don't. The stories are written with such persuasive logic and delicious irony that I want the killing to continue indefinitely.”
—Peter Lovesey, Mystery Writers of America Grand Master

“Darkly engaging . . . The murders Maud pulls off are meticulously plotted and executed, and one of the pleasures of the stories lies in watching Maud in action.”
—The Toronto Star

“The juxtaposition of the way Maud presents in the world, as elderly, somewhat frail, and what she is capable of doing when she is thwarted makes for a really intriguing read that is often laugh out loud funny.”
—Lily Bartel, WAMC's The Roundtable

“A petite, deliciously dry set of short stories . . . grab this one as a stocking-stuffer for the mystery lover on your list.”
—The News & Observer

“Deliciously dark . . . Imagine a ticked-off Miss Marple with the conscience of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley and the cold-blooded pragmatism of Jack Reacher.”
—Mystery Scene

“Maud suffers no fools. In this slim volume of short stories, we meet the 88-year-old retired teacher living alone in her grand Swedish apartment . . . Her recourse is inventive and always plays to her strength—who, after all, would ever suspect an elderly lady? Let’s just say, you’d never want to be on Maud’s bad side.”
—Murder & Mayhem

“Relying on the invisibility of age, using her walkers as a weapon, and seeming dementia as a defense, Maud systematically eliminates all annoyances . . . delightful.”
—Deadly Pleasures

“Perfect for short-story aficionados, An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten mixes in mystery novel tropes, steering away from some of the more kitschy holiday tales. Social gatherings with family and friends will have to wait: Pick up this book, and you won’t be able to put it down.” 
—Durham Magazine

“Delightfully grim and howlingly funny . . . Maud’s no apple-cheeked little Granny.”
—Quad City Times

“A series of darkly comic stories.”
—Petoskey News-Review

“For a twist on the genre, read this delightful anthology of five short stories revolving around an octogenarian protagonist named Maud. The plots will leave you enthralled and keep you entertained, and the translation from the Swedish original reads flawlessly . . . Enjoy the advantages of aging from a comfortable distance, knowing the blood is fake and the victims are figments of Tursten’s lively imagination.”
—The Beacon

“Helene Tursten’s writing is a pleasure to read. Despite the dark nature of the stories, the book is full of humor, and highlights the way that many elderly people are ignored by society as being senile or incapable, something Maud fully uses to her advantage.”
—The Times-News

“A very interesting lead character . . . Would you suspect your grandmother of killing people? Just in case, you might be sure to stay on her good side. After all, you never know.”
—The Sterling Journal-Advocate

“A wily, self-contained octogenarian . . . [an] enjoyable read.”
—The Joplin Globe

“Tursten is best known for the hard-boiled Detective Inspector Irene Huss series of novels. However, the comic twists and turns she delivers in this compact collection are equally engrossing. Unassuming, murderous Maud—with her devious, pseudo-innocent charm—makes these concise stories wickedly funny and addictively readable.”
—Shelf Awareness

“Maud is the petty, take-no-prisoners grandmother we all wish we had.”
—K99 Radio

“A succinct treatise on how to get away with murder. This is a terrific little dollop of crime. Just beware of the little old lady who lives upstairs.”
—Washington Independent Review of Books

“The perfect size for stowing in your handbag with your hard candies and spare garrote wire.”
—Literary Hub

“If you’re into crime stories, dark humor, and want it centered around an octogenarian, run to this collection.”
—Book Riot

“Dark, irreverent, and hilariously funny.”
—Booklist, Starred Review

“Exceptional . . . Readers will be amused by how sharp-as-a-tack Maud plays the forgetful, fuzzy-brained old lady to achieve her ends.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“A juicy dose of senior justice. The book is pure fun.”
—Kirkus Reviews

 “A wonderful discovery . . . Who knew the grim Swedish crime school included a writer this merry . . . and merciless?”
—The Shawangunk Journal

“A satirical warning against the perils of ageism.”
—Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

“Morbid, mysterious, and outrageously funny...this collection is a wonderful example of the more uproarious side of Scandinavian Noir, one that doesn’t often reach our shores and should be savored when it does.”
—CrimeReads

“A masterclass in concise and sharp characterization.”
—Crime Review

“A light, fun read that proves something I've always known: never underestimate the elderly.”
—Kittling Books

“Wildly entertaining.”
—Reading Glasses Podcast

“Cleverly plotted . . . 88-year-old Maude is a combination of Charles Bronson’s character in the movie Death Wish, Mrs. Wilberforce in the movie, The Ladykillers, and a small touch of John le Carré's low-key George Smiley. Tursten has created the perfect criminal, a senior citizen who has the cunning and vindictiveness of Bronson's character, the haplessness and sense of morality of Mrs. Wilberforce, and the deceptive appearance of George Smiley.”
—Los Angeles Public Library Reads

“This tiny gem of a book—184 pages—is for anyone who has been underestimated and prevailed.” 
—Silver Century Foundation

“Dark, funny, and oh so satisfying.”
—Three Percent (University of Rochester)

“Top of the line . . . [Maud] has a take-no-prisoners penchant for survival and can go from zero to 90 whether practicing self-defense or administering rough justice. She does both and more in this collection of finely written and memorable stories.”
—BookReporter

“The elderly female antihero we never knew we needed . . . Suspenseful, funny, and certainly unique, this story is one you won’t want to miss this holiday season.”
—BookTrib

“These wicked, funny tales . . . could be the product of an illicit union between Arsenic and Old Lace and The Talented Mr. Ripley.”
—Reviewing the Evidence

“A delightful, quick read.”
—Richmond Public Library Blog

“Wickedly fun . . . if you’ve had your fill of gooey, saccharine sweet holiday books or movies, then this collection of vignettes featuring Maud, an eighty-eight year old serial killer, will cure your holiday sugar rush.”
—The Book Review

“A completely different type of murderer than the regular mystery reader is used to.”
—Pop Goes Fiction

“Maud is just too good when she is up to no good . . . [her] 'adventures' make for grisly fun, and a quick read if you’re in the mood to dip into a bit of Scandinavian noir.” 
—Reading Reality

“A delicious acid-drop of a book.”
—University Book Store (Seattle, WA)

“Full of fun (and a little bit of gore), this small book will leave you laughing.”
-Odyssey Bookshop, (South Hadley, MA)

“Never underestimate 88-year-old ladies—nearly deaf, living alone, and using wheeled walkers—when it comes to murder . . . You won’t want to miss Tursten’s clever stories.”
—Karen Briggs, The Booknook (East Tawas, MI)

“Helene Tursten, the author of many popular Scandinavian crime thrillers, has shifted gears to offer up this lively and darkly funny tale . . . You will never take seniors for granted again!”
—Eagle Harbor Book Company (Bainbridge Island, WA)

“I thoroughly enjoyed all the wicked things this elderly lady got up to in this fun little read from the author of the Inspector Irene Huss Investigation series. A great gift for a mystery reader.”
—Queen Anne Book Company (Seattle, WA)

Praise for Helene Tursten

“As good as Louise Welsh's similarly creepy tour of Glasgow.”
—Gillian Flynn, Entertainment Weekly

“These days Scandinavian crime writers are thick on the ground. It's nice to see that the women can be just as bloodthirsty as the men.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“[Tursten] imbues this novel with a cold chill of dread that can't be attributed only to the subfreezing temperatures of Göteborg in winter.”
—Chicago Sun Times

“Truly satisfying.”
—Philadelphia Inquirer

“An engaging mystery with a very likable heroine. With a writing style reminiscent of Camilla Läckberg or Henning Mankell, Helene Tursten offers a detective with a nuanced and compelling personal life, as well as a dark and intriguing mystery.”
—Shelf Awareness

If you admire Miss Marple’s cleverness but secretly wish she would embrace crime rather than solve it, you’ll enjoy Suzanne Toren’s narration of these five stories about 88-year-old Maud. Toren gives Maud’s machinations a dignity and even righteous indignation that belie Maud's actions. Toren also perfectly conveys Maud’s clever ability to play upon people’s underestimation of a seemingly poor, frail woman. You’ll be shaking your head at Maud—but in admiration. While less satisfying than the stories in which Maud is center stage, one told by an elderly male is handled equally well. The collection suffers only from being almost too short to really enjoy all the wicked pleasure a character such as Maud has to offer. K.W. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

2018-08-21

Five connected stories about a murderous old Swedish lady.

Maud has a good thing going. At age 88, she's lived in a large apartment rent-free for 70 years because of a clause in an old contract. Never married, she loves to travel alone and to be alone. In the first story, "An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems," a rare event happens: Her doorbell rings. Jasmin Schimmerhof, a 40-year-old avant-garde artist who lives in the building, stops by to say hello. The daughter of celebrities, her past includes drugs, multiple divorces, and tragedy. Her current art project strives to "unmask the domineering tactics of the patriarchy," meaning that her small apartment is filled with phalluses—some even hanging from the ceiling. She is delightfully overbearing as she constantly tries to weasel her way into Maud's good graces. But Maud isn't stupid or senile, and she knows Jasmin is up to something. Once Maud figures out what it is, her solution is drastic, funny, and final. Maud is a seasoned world traveler who once, at age 18, had been engaged to Lt. Gustaf Adelsiöö. He'd emphatically broken off their engagement on learning her family wasn't rich. Now, in "An Elderly Lady on Her Travels," she reads in the newspaper that he is a wealthy 90-year-old widower about to marry the 55-year-old Zazza, whom ex-teacher Maud knows as her long-ago student, a schemer and a failed soft-core porn actress. When Maud arranges to get near her at a spa and then overhears Zazza's plans to take control of Gustaf's estate, Maud devises an emphatic countermeasure. And then in "An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmastime," she deals with "The Problem" in the apartment above her. Maud's murders always have plausible motives, and she is a sympathetic character as long as one keeps a safe distance. Each story takes its sweet time to develop and concludes with a juicy dose of senior justice.

The book is pure fun, although slender. Another volume of Maud's misdeeds would be most welcome.