Book Review - An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed; Helen Tursten

An Elderly Lady Must Not be Crossed; Helene Tursten

Soho Press - 10/4/2021

An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed, is a deliciously delightful series of connected mysteries featuring Maud, a feisty, cunning, 88 year old (almost 89) retired language teacher.  She is a woman who has a unique way of doing away or at least getting even with those who get in her way and/or irritate her or the people she cares about. When the police question her she has a way of pretending she is a bit senile or has a hearing problem and can't find her hearing aids. Of course this all works to her advantage because, seriously, who would expect an 88 year old woman of murder and mayhem?

This series begins with an overview of the last story from her earlier collection about an antique dealer who meets an unfortunate demise at the hands of Maud when she perceived he was trying to take advantage of her in a deal gone bad.  So it's time to get away from Sweden and take a luxury vacation joining (7) strangers on a safari to South Africa. Don't worry about Maud she's sharp, she's spry and can take care of herself just fine.

In most of these very brief stories Maud recalls an incident from an earlier time in her life and proceeds to tell the reader all about it. For example, there was a time when Maud was a teacher and was then demoted to a sub when another teacher returned from her leave.  Also, when her young developmentally disabled sister was bullied and Maud found a way to get even with the two bullies or, the time she found her neighbor in tears over things the woman's son had done and there is more to delight in as well.

Table of Contents

1. An Elderly Lady Begins to Remember Her Past
2. Little Maud Sets a Trap
3. Lancing a Boil
4. The Truth About Charlotte
5. The Peter Pan Problem
6. An Elderly Lady Takes a Trip to Africa
7. Cookie Recipes  (probably best not to attempt these)

While I enjoyed the latest adventures with Maud series, I think I liked her first in this series: An Elderly Lady is Up To No Good (2018) just a tad better (review here).  Although this could certainly be enjoyed as a standalone of short crime mysteries, I highly recommend reading and enjoying the books in order - I doubt you will be disappointed, Maud is an unforgettable character. The writing is often witty, the stories work beautifully as the reader is privy to Mauds every depraved and misdirected thought which makes the reading and listening experience quite fun.

This book was expertly translated.  I was lucky enough to have access to both the Highbridge audio (NetGalley), read by Ann Richardson who was excellent as well as the eGalley provided by Soho Press and Edelweiss.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

A Few New Books

Over the last few weeks I was so pleased to receive review copies these new releases. Are any of them on your TBR list?

• The Bookshop of the Broken Hearted; Robert Hillman (G.P. Putnam & Sons/Amazon Vine)
• The Last Resort;Marissa Stapley (Graydon House/Amazon Vine)
• Drawing Home; Jamie Brenner (Little Brown & Company/Amazon Vine)
• The Club; Takis Worger (Grove Press/Amazon Vine)
• The Hunting Game; Helene Tursten (Soho Crime/ Amazon Vine)

Detective Inspector Huss; Helene Tursten

TITLE: Detective Inspector Huss

AUTHOR:  Helene Tursten

PUBLISHER:  Soho Crime

PUB. YEAR: 2003

SETTING:  Sweden
FORMAT:  - eBook - library (320pp)
RATING: 3.5/5

(translated by Steven Murray - fair translation)

The first in this crime series set in Sweden, Detective Inspector Irene Huss has her work cut out for her when Richard von Knecht, one of the wealthiest businessmen from an Aristocratic family plunges to his death. Initially, suicide is suspected as his son and wife of 30 years have just returned by plane from separate destinations. When it seems apparent the the victim was unconscious when he took the plunge, the case quickly turns to a homicide investigation.

I liked the Detective Irene Huss character, she's about 40, talented, skilled at Ju Jitsu and dedicated to family (husband and twin teen daughters) but, also superior at her job as well. This is a well-crafted police procedural that has plenty of suspects, secrets and surprises that kept me guessing.  Many of the characters will likely be featured in subsequent installments. Overall, I can only give this mystery an average rating as it was slowed and spoiled by the translation which was frustrating.  I do want to try more of this series but, I need to check who the translator for subsequent titles is before deciding.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Detective Inspector Huss; Helene Tursten

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read.  (This week's pick is by an author that I fell in love with last month when I read An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good.)

Detective Inspector Huss; Helene Tursten

Soho Crime - 2012

Prologue

"NOBODY SAW HIM FALL through the dense November darkness. With a dull, heavy thud he hit the rain-wet pavement.  Even though it was still rush hour, there were few people on the street.  The pedestrians huddled beneath umbrellas turned inside out and scrunched their chins turned-up collars for a little protection from the icy, whipping rain.  Everyone who could was driving a car or jammed into the steaming warmth aboard a bus or streetcar.

An elderly woman pulling a stubborn, soaking-wet dachshund on a leash stood closest. The howls that she and the dog announced to those people in the vicinity that something serious had happened.  Hurrying pedestrians slowed their pace. Curiosity got the upper hand, and they were drawn toward the site of the accident."

What do you think? Would you read more or pass?

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good; Helene Tursten

TITLE: An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good (171 pages)

AUTHOR: Helene Tursten

PUBLISHER: Soho Crime

PUB. YEAR: 2018

SETTING:  Sweden
FORMAT:  - print (library)
RATING: 5/5 stars

What a delight this book was - a 171 page mystery consisting of 5 connected short stories. Each story features Maud, an 88 Year old retired teacher who lives all alone, rent free, for as long as she lives, in a top floor apartment. She's been in the apartment for 60 years and, the rent-free part was a stipulation in her father's will. Maud is a senior citizen who travels solo and someone who just wants to be left alone. She's not a person to cross and also someone who not afraid of murderous retaliation.

Dark, just mildly disturbing but, utterly charming as well, each story is well-crafted and connected and, as you might expect, no one suspects 88 year-old Maud is capable of murder. I loved everything about this one and, the small size of this hardcover is wonderful. I've decided to buy a few copies to give to give as gifts.

From the Table of Contents:

1. An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems
2. An Elderly Lady and Her Travels
3. An Elderly Lady Seeks Peace at Christmastime
4. The Antique Dealer's Death
5. An Elderly Lady is Faced With a Dilemma

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good; Helene Tursten

Each Tuesday, Vicki, from I’d Rather Be At The Beach hosts First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros where  readers post the opening paragraph (sometime two) of a book that they are reading or plan to read.

An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good: Stories; Helene Torsten

SOHO Crime - 2018 

An Elderly Lady Has Accommodation Problems

"THE SHRILL SOUND of the doorbell sliced through the silence.  Maud sat motionless in her armchair, making no attempt to get up.  She knew the bell would soon ring again. And again. And again. This had been going on for weeks"

I came across this on the "new book" library shelves last week, the size is so cozy, smaller than my Kindle and just 171 pages.  It's not often fiction is written about senior citizens and a mystery collection as well so I decided to give it a try. What do you think?